Genealogy Chat

I'm not sure where to post this question !!!!

Marriage Certificates

The earliest certificate I have purchased is for a marriage in 1857.
What I would like to know: "if I purchase one for 1833, am I going to get the same level of information - and detail as on the 1857 version?"

Your advice would be most welcome

PeeEmm

There are no marriage certs pre sept qtr 1837 when official registration started

What you may find is the parish record of the marriage. But it won't show father's names and the ages of the couple.

Shirley - that is great - just what I needed to know .......... :)

Regards

PeeEmm

Entries in the Parish Register before July 1 1837 can give an indication of the age of the bride and groom ................ by saying "of Full Age" or "Minor"

Of Full Age is over the age of 21

Minor means under the age of 21

But that is the only indication that you will see.

You will also see the names of witnesses, who may or may not be related to the bride and / or groom, or so-called "professional witnesses" who receive a small sum from the groom for performing the job of witnessing. You can also find Professional Witnesses on marriages after July 1


This is an example of a transcript of one of mine from 1835.

"England Marriages, 1538–1973 "

Name: Thomas Ellard
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Age:
Spouse's Name: Priscilla Leper
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age:
Event Date: 24 Mar 1835
Event Place: Preston Bisset,Buckingham,England
Father's Name:
Mother's Name:
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Race:
Marital Status:
Previous Wife's Name:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M07367-2
System Origin: England-ODM
GS Film number: 919245
Reference ID:


You can find English Marriages, 1538 - 1973 on either familysearch, ancestry or fmp

After Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act came into force in 1754, marriages were recorded in a separate register to baptisms and deaths.
The following long link should work. It takes you to an 1833 marriage page of a register from St. Margaret, Rochester, Kent.

http://cityark.medway.gov.uk/query/results/?Mode=ShowImg&Img=/cityark/Scans/Ecclesiastical_Rochester_Archdeaconry_Area_Parishes/P305_ROCHESTER_ST_MARGARET_1653_1987/01_Initial_Deposit_of_Parish_Records_1653_1905/01_INCUMBENT_REGISTERS_1653_1987/P305_01_17.html/00000154.jpg

As James Smith appears as a witness on 3 out of the 6 marriages on the link, he was either a popular friend or a 'professional' witness.

There is no place on the register to show age or "over 21",. etc. But, from my own research, where a minor was marrying then that fact would be stated. Along with a comment such as "by the permission of the Court", "Fred Bloggs guardian", etc. If by permission of the parent then he/she would either be one of the witnesses, or added as an extra name.

The otp can be useful, as if one or both of the couple were from another parish it would be stated. Often (but not always.....) the marriage would be in the bride's Mother Church, but they would probably then live in the groom's parish.

You are all such lovely people
And I am lacking in the art of response
When you look at the date of my request, you must have thought
"What an ungrateful member we have here"
Thank you all for helping my research to define Peter Monaghan b1811 (about) who came to England and married Grace Jones in 1833 in Northumberland.

Regards

PeeEmm