Genealogy Chat

On a marriage cert I have the couple's marriage by licence as opposed to marriage after banns. Whats the difference ? Wendy

Was the marriage in a church? Reg

Reg Yes it was. Wendy

Hi Wendy If married by licence the Banns would not necessarily have been called. It usually would have taken place I believe at a Register office but not necessarily. Usually the licence would have allowed the marriage to take place sooner than by banns. Sometimes I believe from experience with as little as 3 days notice lol if by special licence. Hope this helps, someone more knowledgeable that me will probably give a better answer. Keith

Ah so they may have married in a hurry ? I don't think she was pregnant but maybe it was an ill match and they married in haste ? She was from Staffs and married in London. Definitely something to ponder Wendy

From the brilliant http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/indexbd.htm site which will tell you loads about certificates - bookmark it NOW, ' 'by licence' ... would indicate that the couple may have married with less than three weeks between giving the notice and getting married (minimum of 1 clear working day). However - a licence lasts three months so the marriage wasn't necessarily done in a rush. It may have been easier to give only the one licence notice rather than the two that would have been needed for a marriage by certificate if the bride and groom lived in different districts.'

Thanks Helen Thats makes sense as the bride lived in Staffs and they married in London. I'm kind of hoping she run off with him and he was a bigamist lol. Wendy x

Kind people I'm off to bed but I promise to check on this tomorrow. Forever Grateful Wendy

There is an article about marriage licenses here http://www.originsnetwork.(com/help/aboutbo-mla-gma.htm remove (