Genealogy Chat

I thought the same thing until I found some of mine in the registry offices. Burials are another thing, there were no crematoriums until the 20th century. So nowhere else but the Church yard or the cemetery. Irene

Nearly all my relatives that married at the end of the 19th century were married in registrary offices. I did wonder if one of them was a rushed wedding!!, they do not seem to be particularly non conformist, as some were buried in the churchyard. none of them were well off though and I had assumed that this may be a poor mans option Linda P

It actually started in 1837 with the introduction of civil registration. Judging by my own tree I would say that most marriages were still performed by the churches until the late 20th century. Bob

Hi Gwynneth I hadn't thought of it that way - I thought maybe one of them had been married before. Thanks for your help, Karen

Hi, Several of my non-conformists got married in the register office. Many non-con chapels were not licenced for marriages and a registrar had to be present. Gwynne

Hi all, Have just noticed that my rellie, Edward Chapman, was married in Croydon Register office in 1868. I thought register offices were a fairly 'new' concept. Does anyone know how common register office weddings were, and the criteria for these (divorce, etc). Many thanks, Karen