RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: brn on Tuesday 04 October 22 18:16 BST (UK)
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I am researching family in Co Wexford and have come across a marriage record dated 1846 with the following comment
'Married in the Registrar's office according to 7 and 8 Victoria C 81 by licence'
I cannot find a church record for this marriage. What does this comment mean.
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I am researching family in Co Wexford and have come across a marriage record dated 1846 with the following comment
'Married in the Registrar's office according to 7 and 8 Victoria C 81 by licence'
I cannot find a church record for this marriage. What does this comment mean.
It means precisely what it says. They weren't married in church, but in a registry office.
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Thanks, but pardon my ignorance but what would be the general reasons for there not being a church marriage.
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Thanks, but pardon my ignorance but what would be the general reasons for there not being a church marriage.
Being heathens?
Marriage against cannon law?
Marriage opposed by family, so don't want public marriage in church?
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More possible reasons.
1 or both parties not Christian.
Mixed Christian religious denominations.
Divorced (rare then)
A civil marriage to legalise an existing marriage/earlier ceremony which had doubtful validity.
Examples:
A soldier or policeman who didn't obtain permission from his superior for a previous wedding ceremony.
His wife & children wouldn't be entitled to benefits unless he was legally married.
A Catholic & C. of I. couple who had a prior wedding ceremony in a Catholic chapel. Such a marriage
could be dissolved and children declared illegitimate unless the couple married in Church of Ireland or a
registry office. RootsChatters found a registry office marriage several decades after a couple married
in a Catholic chapel. The R.C. ceremony was illegal at the time under Penal Laws against Catholics; the
priest committed an offence and was liable to arrest & imprisonment.
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As my mother would say a 'hurry along marriage' ie baby on the way.
Husband in the forces and leaving immediately
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As my mother would say a 'hurry along marriage' ie baby on the way.
Husband in the forces and leaving immediately
But I don't see how a registry office marriage would help in such a situation?
Prior notice was still required, just as with churches.
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'Married in the Registrar's office according to 7 and 8 Victoria C 81 by licence'
"7 and 8 Victoria c 81" is the Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844. "7 & 8" are the years of Queen Victoria's reign during which the legislation went through Parliament and then received the royal assent. Victoria became queen in June 1837. The end of her 7th regnal year and start of 8th regnal year were in 1844.
"7 & 8 Vict. CAP LXXXI An Act for Marriages in Ireland: and for registering such Marriages (9 August 1844)"
Coincidently, another Parliamentary Bill which received Royal Assent on the same day was "Roman Catholics Penal Acts Repeal".
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I am researching family in Co Wexford and have come across a marriage record dated 1846 with the following comment
'Married in the Registrar's office according to 7 and 8 Victoria C 81 by licence'
I cannot find a church record for this marriage. What does this comment mean.
Do you know what religion(s) the couple were? At this date not all clergymen were authorised to perform legal marriages so a couple might get marred in the registry office but also go through a church ceremony.
Another reason for a registry office marriage is a recent death in the family or any time when I quiet wedding was wanted.
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Another thing I came across while looking for the Marriages (Ireland) Act was an Amendment to it in 1846 (Victoria 9 & 10) which consisted of a paragraph about procedure if one party was resident in England.
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I am researching family in Co Wexford and have come across a marriage record dated 1846 with the following comment
'Married in the Registrar's office according to 7 and 8 Victoria C 81 by licence'
I cannot find a church record for this marriage. What does this comment mean.
Do you know what religion(s) the couple were? At this date not all clergymen were authorised to perform legal marriages so a couple might get marred in the registry office but also go through a church ceremony.
Another reason for a registry office marriage is a recent death in the family or any time when I quiet wedding was wanted.
Unfortunately I don't know their religon. I have attached the cert.
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Margaret was a widow. They were married by licence.
A quick, quiet, no-fuss wedding?
They were both "full age". That could be any age over 21.
Did they have children?
Do you know when Margaret's husband died?