Manchester area 1794 why would Marines be in the area?

[illjaorterpa]

hi
coming back to family history after a while! trying to put flesh on the bones of my ancestors. Trying to work out what/why would my 5 x g.grandfather Edward Porter a Marine based in Portsmouth and originally from Herefordshire be in Manchester/Blackley area in the first half of 1794? Where he met and married Alice Collinge (a weaver from Blackley) on 14 June 1794 in Manchester cathedral. The only reason i can think is the Marines were stationed in the area but why - what was going on? Cant imagine he'd be there for fun? Anyone with knowledge of details of Manchester for that year could throw any light on it? many thanks

[BumbleB]

The marriage was by Licence, and it does say on the register entry that Edward Porter was "of this Parish and Town of Manch'r" which suggests to me that he was perhaps home on leave. 

[ShaunJ]

Marriage Bond: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-671S-J94?i=640
Marriage Licence: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-671S-TTR?i=641

These disclose that he was a widower

[ShaunJ]

He may have been a recruiting sergeant. A corps of marines was raised in Manchester in 1793.

[heywood]

Marriage Bond: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-671S-J94?i=640
Marriage Licence: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-671S-TTR?i=641

These disclose that he was a widower

Also says ‘now of Manchester’

[illjaorterpa]

The idea he was recruiting sounds possible. He didnt leave the Marines until 1814 and didnt stay in Manchester as their first son was christened in Warrington 10 months later. Probably the Marines were stationed in Warrington?. His wife Alice seemed to move to Coventry by the time their next 2 sons were born in 1804 & 1808. Have no idea why but only can presume a weaving connection. Edward was still in this Marines during this time so must have been on active duty although havnt been able to discover where/what the 23 division of Portsmouth division were doing?

[Maiden Stone]

There was a war on.  People moved all over the place.
There's a website called "Soldiers, Sailors and Strangers" or similar. It's a compilation of baptisms of children born away from their fathers' usual abode at that time.
Alice may have been in Coventry because her husband was stationed there.

[illjaorterpa]

Thank you all for the information & brilliant help. I had never found links to the marriage bond and licence before so not known about them before.

[BumbleB]

Glad you found the Licence and Bond information helpful.  Always very useful for pre-1837 marriages due to the additional information related to bride and groom.  They are usually, if they survive, to be found at the Archives where the Diocesan records are held.