In Scotland it has always been the person who was registered to conduct a marriage ceremony not the place. Hence people could be married in places other than a church or registry office.
Though previously, talking of the last 50 years or so, you would be hard pushed to get an official to come unless it was for a very good reason i.e. terminal illness.
In saying that many marriage ceremonies took place in the brides home or that of the Minister.
Marriage in Scotland is not a sacrament.
In the early family history days I was totally foxed by a couple who came from Ross and Cromarty whose marriage I found, after much searching, had taken place in Edinburgh. The certificate was faded copperplate and had not reproduced well and I thought I must have made a mistake but meticulous cross referencing proved it correct.
As I live in Edinburgh I decided to drive to the said house on the certificate. It was a large stone built house in a very good area. I was even more confused.
On asking a friend with greater genealogical knowledge than me she said ”It sounds as if they ‘married in front of the Minister’ at the Manse.
OK half the puzzle solved.
On recounting the story to my husband and brother in law they then remembered, which has frequently happened after the event in researching their side
, that their Dad had said the man in question was a stonemason and used to come to Edinburgh on the boats they brought the sandstone that built the outer areas of the town once it’s on local supply was exhausted.
I love these puzzles!
