Blimey, think ancestor was charged with incest !

[stanmapstone]

The cases in my mother's family were all in a particular small village in Cambridgeshire Stan; however, as they were non conformist though marrying in Cof E to comply with the law would the clergyman be interested?

If it was before Lord Hardwicke's 1753 Marriage Act then the marriage did not have to be in an Anglican Church, there were plenty of irregular marriages. It was this Act that required every marriage – with the exception only of those of the Jews and the Quakers - to be solemnised in the Church of  England parish church or chapel of one of the parties - and in the presence of at least two witnesses.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Does anyone know if it's possible to order a transcript from the uni, and if so how I go about it, sorry I'm totally new to this.

Thanks once again, Emma.

You could email the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections PG.Library[at]durham.ac.uk
See http://www.rootschat.com/links/0bs5/

Stan

[stanmapstone]

What is the reference? At that time "incest" could mean a marriage within the prohibited degrees of affinity or consanguinity, and not what we call incest today. As this was an Ecclesiastical Court. and not a criminal court, then I think this is what it is.

Stan

Incest was not made a crime in England & Wales until 1908. The Punishment of Incest Act 1908, (8 Edw VII. c45) 21st December 1908. 

Stan

[Redroger]

Thanks Stan, but the marriages mostly took place in the late 18th early 19th centuries.