Edinburgh marriage in a Cottage

[Hunter1]

Thanks so much - this is just what I hoped for. Being able to see the street as it is now on Streetview is wonderful.

Emma, the bride, was living at Number 4 North Richmond Street, Edinburgh, at the time of the marriage. She is recorded as a spinster, age 22, and I did wonder if she was in service (she was from Belfast so might have been?), and whether Glenalmond Cottage was something to do with her employer? Or the Hussars? I'm clutching at straws I know, but having just found these ancestors, and the new Edinburgh connection I'm itching to get an idea of their lives.

Many thanks

Hunter.

[Seoras]

Late reply I know but I have only just joined.Marriage at the brides home doesn't seem too unusual,I have great grand parents that did the same and by declaration.This was an early form of civil ceremony whereby if two people decided they were married then they declared so in front of two witnesses and this was then registered as a marriage.I also have grand parents that married at the brides home and other great grand parents that married at a manse.A manse being where the church minister usually lived and would be found next door to the church.I would imagine the reason for marrying at home would be the cost possibly or maybe the bride was already pregnant.As to marriage by declaration in my case it appears to be because one was protestant and one catholic and so could use neither church.

[grannysrock]

Hi Hunter
According to the Post Office Directory for Edinburgh 1864-65 , Glenalmond Cottage, Sciennes Hill was the home of the Rev James McLachlan  in 1865.
http://www.archive.org/stream/postofficeedinbu186465edi#page/124/mode/2up/search/glenalm

Regards
Sally

[Seoras]

Good reply Grannysrock.This seems to fit in with my own grandparents getting married in the ministers home.I imagine these ceremonies took place in whichever room the minister was using as a study/office.I would guess the reasons for such a ceremony were that they were cheaper than a church wedding or possibly if there was only a short time in which the couple could marry.