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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: the2monts on Tuesday 27 July 10 03:34 BST (UK)
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G'Day All
My grandfather David Roberts and grandmother Helen Sneddon were married at 21 Hope Street Glasgow in 1922. I have seen records of people being married at this same address even before 1900 and as late as 1936. I have downloaded photos of the building which is a 4 or 5 storey sandstone building.
Can anyone tell me what was at this address. Was it a Registry Office, Solicitor's Office, and was it the actual place that the wedding ceremony took place?
Hoping for assistance. David
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My grandparents were also married at this address in 1913 "By Declaration" which is I believe a continuation of the old "handfast" custom. Basically the couple just declared that they were married or wished to be recognised as married (as far as I understand it - someone else may be able to explain better.
It must have been a type of Registry office as the certificate is signed by an assistant registrar and stamped "Warrant of Sheriff Substitute of Lanarkshire". According the the header, this stamp would indicate it was classed as an irregular marriage. A great deal has been written about irregular marriages elsewhere - unfortunately I cannot remember any of the links, but I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction if you are interested.
GM
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There were no Registry Offices at that time ..... it may have been the office of a solicitor.
Scots Law recognised various forms of "irregular marriage" and marriage by declaration in the presence of witnesses was one of them
When Civil Registration was introduced various methods were put in place for couples who chose these "irregular" forms of marriage to allow them to Register their marriages.
Basically this was a precursor to Civil registration and marriage in a Regisrty Office which came much later.
Upon hearing the evidence, and being satisfied that all was in order the sheriff would issue a warrant to allow the couple to register their marriage as normal at the registrars office
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I know this is a very very old topic but I think I found them!
Watson, Robt, writer and notary public, 21 Hope st.;
ho. 8 Fife ave., Cardonald.
https://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/archive/90522148?mode=transcription
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I have read somewhere that the procedure was that you declared yourself married in front of witnesses, then you and the witnesses went to the Sheriff Court, and you told the Sheriff you had got married and the witnesses corroborated that, then you were given a warrant authorising the Registrar to record the marriage in his register.
So the place of marriage could have been pretty much anywhere. Your home, or a hotel, or a solicitor's offices.
There are listings of Registrar and Registration Offices in the 1907 and 1915 Valuation Rolls, but only a tiny number, so it seems probable that Registrars in most places would have had some sort of office in their home or other place of work.