Can anyone find previous Marriages of two widowers - a puzzle

[ptdrifter]

I have a marriage of Bartholomew Dickenson and Lydia Priest on 16/12/1716 in the list of Clandestine marriages in London.
Both are shown as W for widow and Widower.
Their two children were baptised in St James Westminster
Bartholomew and Lydia were both buried in St James Westminster
A Thomas Priest was buried in St James Westminster, 12/11/1714 so a possible late husband of Lydia?

I have not been able to find any other marriages for Bartholomew or Lydia, nor baptism for Bartholomew

Amy suggestions ?

[rosie99]

Their marriage is showing Bartholomew residence as 3rd Regt Guards Soldier.  Maybe he married abroad

[bearkat]

This website suggest that the 3rd foot regiment were garrisoned in Scotland

https://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=3rd_Foot_Guards

[ptdrifter]

Thanks for the replies.
I have looked on the Scotland's People site, no joy there.  He's possibly listed as a Chelsea out pensioner in 1717, but no details as to his age or length of service etc.

[coombs]

 have looked at 1680-1720 marriages for any Priest and variants marriage to a Lydia on FindMyPast and Anc, and cannot find any as yet.

[ptdrifter]

They are an elusive couple. Trying to find if they are the parents I'm looking for and the ages would at least give me an idea.

[coombs]

Thing is when you get back that far, the amount of gaps in parish registers and the like increases. Records missing etc, thus meaning the elusive ancestors may sadly remain elusive.

[LizzieL]

Thing is when you get back that far, the amount of gaps in parish registers and the like increases. Records missing etc, thus meaning the elusive ancestors may sadly remain elusive.

And even if records exist they often only give the bare minimum of information. for example
Names of bride and groom and date of marriage but no indication if they were single or widowed.
Burials of wife or widow of {John Smith} poor lady didn't even merit a name
Baptisms with only the name of the child and date - not even father recorded

[coombs]

Thing is when you get back that far, the amount of gaps in parish registers and the like increases. Records missing etc, thus meaning the elusive ancestors may sadly remain elusive.

And even if records exist they often only give the bare minimum of information. for example
Names of bride and groom and date of marriage but no indication if they were single or widowed.
Burials of wife or widow of {John Smith} poor lady didn't even merit a name
Baptisms with only the name of the child and date - not even father recorded

Yes, they were not really made for the benefit of genealogists centuries later. and info can differ from parish to parish before 1813 for baptisms/burials and 1754 marriages until 1837 when civil reg began.