Registry Offices

[CAPRA69]

Does anyone know when Registry Offices performed marriages in their own offices?   I am looking for the building in Narberth where these were conducted in late 19th century.   Searching through the censuses I can find a Registrar of Marriage in each census year (1851 - 1911)  but it would appear it is their own homes that are their offices.    The 1854 act set up General Registry Offices in every parish but  I do not think that allowed marriages in their own offices?

[omega 1]

Hi CAPRA69

Welcome to Rootschat

The earliest marriage certificate i have for a marraige at Narberth Register Office is 1865.

I asked in Narberth Museum where is used to be but they were`nt sure.

Hopefully someone will

Kind regards

omega 

[omega 1]

Marriages were allowed at a Register Office from Sept 1837

Found this web site

welsh roots family research,this will help

Kind regards

omega

[CAPRA69]

Thank you for your reply omega1.  That is an early date for a registry office marriage. 
I very much doubt that Pembrokeshire had a registry office in Narberth as early as 1837.  The earliest Narberth Registrar I have found was 1850.  I am still not sure if the Registrar just used his own front room to perform the ceremony or there was a separate building.  If they used their own homes then the venue changed frequently when a new Registrar was appointed.

I have read that in the early days the clerk of the Union was usually Superintendant Registrar for protestant and civil marriages.  Could the ceremony have been at the Union?  Also that from 1898 marriages could be performed by an authorised person at a non established church i.e non-conformist.
Lots of conflicting dates here.

[omega 1]

Hi CAPRA

i have the Marriage Cert in front on me.My Greatgrandparents.

The marriage was solemnised at The Narberth Register Office by the Registrar & deputy superintendant Registrar.

Going through the Album i keep Certs in ,i have a marriage,1845 at Haverfordwest Register Office.

When civil registration started Non Conformist was allowed to marry in a Chaple.

The earliest Non Conformist marriage i have (in a Chaple) is 1844.
 
Kind Regards

omega

[omega 1]

Hi

I have been racking my brain about the Narberth Register Office.

The people in the museum "suspect" it was in St James`s Street.It was a double fronted Property & at some point after closure someone found an Office within it.
When last there the building was an Antique/secondhand shop.

I too would love to know for sure ,as another set of Greatgrandparents married there in 1881 & my Grandparents in 1917

Kind regards
omega

 

[CAPRA69]

I have found the Registrar for marriages in 1901 & 1911.  He was Benjamin Evans and he lived in High Street Narberth.  He is listed in 1911 as Clerk to the Board of Guardians and Registrar of marriages.  He quotes his employer as Poor Law Union office?

Omega1 can you let me have the names of the Registrar on your early Narberth marriages and I can try and trace them through the censuses?  From the trade directories I have found the names of John Griffiths for 1852  and William M Howells for 1880 but I cannot find either of these two in the relevant censuses.

[omega 1]

Hi

First,from Grandparents marriage 1917,the Registrar was a Benjamin Evans & Henry Lewis Superintendant.

I think the Benjamin you mention,re Poor Law Union office would be Narberth Workhouse.

On 1865 marriage cert,John Griffith was Registrar & John Thomas ,deputy.

1881 marriage cert,William M Howell,Registrar & John Thomas,Superintendant.

If you dont know Narberth,The High Strret is round the corner from
St James Street.

omega

[z]

Hi

I hope that I am not interrupting but I have found this and thought it may help ......

1851 H0107 2475 482 8 - Civil Parish Narberth - All living at St James St - families of:-
John Griffiths head mar 33 Llandarcy? Pembs - butcher
William Howell head 38 Carmarthen Carmarthenshire - Printer
John Thomas head mar 27 Narberth Pembs - Grocer

1871 RG10 5508 16 15 - Civil Parish Narberth - living at St James St
John Thomas Head mar 47 Narberth Pembs - Clerk Superintendant Registrar and District Road Surveyor
plus family

and also on the same page but living in Sheep St is a William Phillips Head wid 40 Narberth Pembs - Registrar of Births and Deaths

Regards

Z