Living in Wirral but marrying in Liverpool early 1800s

[Certacito]

Hi,

Just joined and live in Wallasey.  St Nicks was known as the Seamans church so possibly if your ancestors got christened, married or had their funeral service there then they were probably seafarers, or their relatives.  I know one of my ancestors got married there but I think he was living in the city at the time.

I think it has been stated before but in many cases it was easier to travel to Liverpool from the likes of Seacombe than to other places on the Wirral.  It hasn't really changed that much to this day if you are talking about public transport. 

[Sue in Aust]

Hi Certacito

Welcome to Rootschat 

My Wirral ancestors who married in St Nicks mostly came from the villages of Irby, Thurstaston, Caldy and Frankby and worked as blacksmiths, ag. labourers or stone masons, not a seafarer amongst them.

It must have been quite a journey in those days.

Sue 

[Certacito]

Hi Certacito

Welcome to Rootschat 

My Wirral ancestors who married in St Nicks mostly came from the villages of Irby, Thurstaston, Caldy and Frankby and worked as blacksmiths, ag. labourers or stone masons, not a seafarer amongst them.

It must have been quite a journey in those days.

Sue 

You can't be serious. All of those villages are Viking so your ancestors must have been seafarers.     On a more serious note, whom did they marry?

[Sue in Aust]

I haven't quite got back to my Viking Ancestors .... as yet  .

Whom did they marry?  ......... perhaps a personal PM is in order here.

Sue 

[Pippakit]

I was told the following (by an American relative!):

"St Nicholas’ church in Liverpool was the ‘Gretna Green’ of the North West. Many marriages were performed for people from as far away as North Wales, and regularly from Cheshire. The church did not ask too many questions as to whether the parents of the couple approved of the wedding or whether the bride was pregnant. Therefore it was relatively easy to marry at this church."

My Great Great Grandparents were also married here, in 1840, and they travelled from Chester to do so (they were both underage, and they were cousins - possibly a union which was frowned upon). He was in the brewery trade, not a seafarer.

Another pair of Great Great Grandparents travelled from Heswall to the same church, in 1842, the groom giving a Liverpool address, which I have been told was an "address of convenience" for the marriage, as they moved back to Pensby afterwards. He was an Agricultural Labourer, no seafaring influence there!

[Pepsi62]

Interesting reply Pippakit,
I also have marriages in Liverpool for reasons we cannot explain.

We have 2 brothers both from Madeley in Staffs, one married a local girl and the other from Nantwich, who went to Liverpool to get married and then went straight back to their roots.

There does not appear to be any illicit reason for this - although interestingly they were both in the brewery trade.

All the rest of the families married locally.

[Harpist]

Hi all,

I too had family who married at St Nick's from Birkenhead + Wales. One reason I was given is that it wasn't important what religion you were, you could be married  - no questions asked. Also it was supposed to be a 'Pretty' location in the 19th century.

Regards
Harpist.

[Certacito]

I'm trying to find some more details about St Nicks but my usual source is not talking to me for some reason at the moment. For whatever reason they went there to get married, surely they had to reside in the parish for a period of time first? Reading of the banns and all that?

It's starting to annoy me now. 

[celia]

These nice sites should tell you all you want to know

www.old-liverpool.co.uk

http://www.sjsfiles.btinternet.co.uk/img0070.htm


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e1/

    Somebody shorten that for me please i dont know how to it

Celia