Genealogy Chat

I have a marriage certificate for OH's 2x great grandfather. The marriage took place at Quays Meeting House Ipswich in 1883, by licence. I believe this was his third marriage. Was a Meeting House a place of worship for Baptists, Presbyterians or Methodists?

Also there are three witnesses to this marriage, I have never come across this before, any ideas as to why?

Thanks

There can be any number of witnesses......my parents had three.

Meeting House is a term used in the main by Quakers (Society of Friends)

Thanks Reggie, I thought you could only have two witnesses.

So they were Quakers, thanks for that.

Sue

Thanks Sick Parrot, I will have to dig a bit deeper to see if he was a Quaker or Baptist.

Sue

Sue - is Woodbridge near Ipswich? If so, have a look at this website I found by Googling:

http://www.woodbridgechurch.org.uk/Records/quay/quay.htm

It mentions a Quay Meeting House and gives background to the church.

Athena

I've come across a certificate where there were four witnesses. (I must admit I assumed it was because they were glad to see the back of the happy couple!)

I think 2 is the norm but you could have more.

A bit like baptisms - generally 2 godfathers and 1 godmother for a boy and vice versa for a girl, but when I was considering having my son baptised I wanted 2 godfathers and 2 godmothers and that would have been perfectly OK.

More than two witnesses is a bit of a bonus though isn't it?

Jill

Athena, Yes it is in Woodbridge I will take a look, thanks.

Jill, it probably stopped a lot of family arguments, you know the thing, 'I want to be a witness' why is he one and not me lol

Sue

My parents had 3 witnesses to their marriage. I was told that because my Father's family did not attend, there had to be 3 ?

Sue - had a thought. Not sure where in Kent you are but there is a Friends Meeting House in Canterbury (think it was originally Quakers). I wonder whether they would have any info that might help in your research.

Jill

The Quakers kept very good records - pop over to Family Tree Forum and check out the WIKI reference board on there.

i have a Quaker Marriage certificate, and the whole congregation were witness to the event - over 20 in total! Most interesting - in the congregation were members of the Cadbury [chocolate] family.