Genealogy Chat

what exactly does it mean if someone got married by marriage licence?

Are there any additional records that exist because someone got married by licence?

Also would there be any additional records if someone got married after banns?

Hi,

Yes there could be additional information for a Marriage by Licence if the Bond has survived, usually it is because they couldn't wait the 3 weeks for the Banns to be read in Church for whatever reason.

A very helpful lady in the Hereford Record Office found one of mine in 1810, someone had to put up the bond, in our case it was £100.00 which was quite a sum in those days and they married the day after the bond was posted, if they didn't appear for the marriage the money would be forfeited and I still do not know who on earth the man was who pledged his £100.00.

Kind regards
Amanda

Thanks Amanda, this is something I can look into further.

My grandfather married by licence in August 1922. He was still in the army at the time and was there until September 1922 so I assume it was because he was in a hurry.

Made me think that I ought to see if I can track down any other records involved.

Jill

I like the idea of the bond being forfeited if the couple didn't turn up - however this wasn't what it was for.

The licence allowed a coupe to circumvent the calling of the banns over a period of three Sundays, which in turn allowed the congregation to object if they felt their were some impediment to the marriage.

To do this they had to make a sworn declaration that there was no just cause or impediment why the marriage should not take place, backed up by the bond. The bond would be forfeited if it subsequently came to light that there had been an impediment.

Licences were more common that one may think, and were often used when a couple married away from their home parishes. I have several examples in my family tree.

They were also popular with the better off, almost for their 'snob' value, because a licence required payment, they might choose to obtain one as a status symbol.

A licence normally took 15 days to get, whereas banns took three successive Sundays (i.e., 15 days). Banns weren't free. If banns were called in both the bride and the groom's home parishes, there'ld be two sets to pay for - there'ld typically be a record in both parishes, although one might be omitted and replaced by the marriage record. If both parishes were in the same registration district, one would only need to pay one licence fee.

Thank you :) It makes far more sense to me now.

The IGI extracts banns and marrs - here's an example of two OPR extracts with banns in Longside and a marr in the next parish.

Results for: William Slessor, Scotland, British Isles
Spouse: Christian Slessor
Exact Spelling: Off

International Genealogical Index / British Isles - 2
Select records to download - (50 maximum)
1. WILLIAM SLESSOR - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 21 DEC 1820 Longside, Aberdeen, Scotland

2. WILLIAM SLESSOR - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 23 DEC 1820 Old Deer, Aberdeen, Scotland

I was under the impression that the 15 day notice rule for licenses applied to civil or Noncomformist weddings after 1837. The details were posted publicly for at least 15 days, by the registrar, to allow for objections. This is what happened with my own wedding, which took place at the United Reformed Church.

In the case of earlier licenses, I believe they were issued almost immediately, thereby bypassing the 15 day notice, hence the requirement for a bond, which could become forfeit should someone come forward later and claim there was an impediment.

As mgnv said you had to pay twice if the couple were in different parishes.

That explains why when you get a marriage cert the couple are often at the same address or residing with someone of the same parish

Then there is -
Married by Certificate - this means that a couple had waited three weeks between giving notice and getting married.

Thanks everyone for replying. I didn't know most of this.

You just reminded me, Brinsley - don't know if anyone has read Pride and Prejudice but when Mrs. Bennet (whose basic purpose in life is to find rich son-in-laws) finds out that Lizzy is going to marry Darcy, she actually says - to quote the book - "Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence."

So now I'm wondering if it is because he was an earl's grandson and she wanted the special licence so she could show off to her neighbours, or because Darcy was living with his friend Bingley in Hertfordshire rather than in his home parish in Derbyshire?