Thread: Multiple Marriages

clwilks · 20-09-2007, 03:50 AM

I've been doing some transcibing for marriages in the Worcestor area for 1808/09. It is becoming clear that in this particular church there seemed to be multiple marriages on the same day - I have counted up to 8 marriages recorded as happening on the same day in one instance but it wasn't a one off - multiple marriages happened regularly.

More interesting is that only the Clerk and one of the Groom's from the many marriages happening that day has witnessed each one. For the Groom of one marriage to stick around and be witness to all 8 marriages that day - they either must have all been married at the same time or the ceremonies were really quick!?

Does anyone know how marriages were conducted back then - was as this common practice throughout England?

Starlight · 23-09-2007, 01:44 AM

Hi clwilks,

I have had a look through some of my parish records on microfiche and the number of marriages any one day range from 0-2. In 1783 there were 2 weddings on most of the days that weddings took place. This was because a tax of 3 pence was added for every birth, Marriage and burial starting the first of October that year. I can see nothing out of the ordinary for 1808-1809. Maybe something was happening in the area that you are transcribing differently to what was happening in Hampshire.

20-09-2007, 03:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
clwilks New Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 13	Multiple Marriages I've been doing some transcibing for marriages in the Worcestor area for 1808/09. It is becoming clear that in this particular church there seemed to be multiple marriages on the same day - I have counted up to 8 marriages recorded as happening on the same day in one instance but it wasn't a one off - multiple marriages happened regularly. More interesting is that only the Clerk and one of the Groom's from the many marriages happening that day has witnessed each one. For the Groom of one marriage to stick around and be witness to all 8 marriages that day - they either must have all been married at the same time or the ceremonies were really quick!? Does anyone know how marriages were conducted back then - was as this common practice throughout England? Last edited by clwilks; 20-09-2007 at 03:55 AM.

23-09-2007, 01:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Starlight Ancestry Aid Manager Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Essex Posts: 15,918 Total Awards: 8	Re: Multiple Marriages Hi clwilks, I have had a look through some of my parish records on microfiche and the number of marriages any one day range from 0-2. In 1783 there were 2 weddings on most of the days that weddings took place. This was because a tax of 3 pence was added for every birth, Marriage and burial starting the first of October that year. I can see nothing out of the ordinary for 1808-1809. Maybe something was happening in the area that you are transcribing differently to what was happening in Hampshire.
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