Author Topic: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed  (Read 245 times)

Offline K127

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Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« on: Friday 20 June 25 20:13 BST (UK) »
Hello everyone, I wondered if anyone could help me understand this document linked to a marriage entry between Walter Snow and Mary Beresford. I've tried to decipher what I can but I'm just no good at this, hoping some expert eyes can help.

- Focusing on the second section, it says 'Walter Snow and Mary Beresford of Ipstones' and Ipstones links in well with that part of my tree. But later on I see mention of Dilhorn or Fryhorn (5 lines up from the bottom on the left) and was wondering what that location related to? I can't make much of it out, alas! Was one party from Dilhorn/Fryhorn?

(- Am I right in thinking the first part of this doc in Latin is unrelated? The names Richardo something or other seems unrelated.)

I really appreciate any help :) Thank you.

Offline goldie61

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #1 on: Friday 20 June 25 23:49 BST (UK) »
It's not a 'deed' as such. This is the standard condition that went with the application for a marriage licence - called the allegation.
https://www.genguide.co.uk/source/marriage-licence-records/
There was also a  'Bond' part.
Has the Bond part of this application survived? You often find both these parts together.

The 'Richard' you can see on the third line of the Latin part is 'Richard Raines' the 'vicar' writing the allegation, to whom the parties are 'obliged'. I think he was the Bishop of the Lichfield and Coventry diocese.
The date of the application is at the bottom of the Latin part - I think 27th day of June 1683.

The names of 'Dylhorne or Ipstones' near the bottom of the English part are the churches at which they can get married.


Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline goldie61

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 00:17 »
The part in English

The condition of this obligation is such that if
hereafter there shall not appear nor be found any lawfull Lett or
Impediment by reason of any precontract Consanguinity or
Affinity but that Walter Snow & Mary Beresford of Ipstones
may lawfully Solemnize Matrimony together and afterwards
in the same lawfully remaine like Man and Wife according to the
Lawe in this Case made & provided And moreover if there bee
not at this present any Action Plaint Suit Quarrell or Demand
made against either of the said Parties for any such matter or
Cause before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Temporall And alsoe if the
said Parties do not proceed to the solemnization of their said
Marriage without the Consent of their parents or other
Governours Nor at any other Place than in the face of the Church of
Dylhorne or Ipstones Nor at any other time than betwext
the hours of Eight & Twelve of the Clock in the Aforenoone
Then this Obligation to be voyd or else to stand in full force
power and vertue.

Sealed & delivered In the presence of
Tho: Dresser


There is, presumably, another witness to this on the right hand side.
Somebody who ‘makes his mark’.
Unfortunately the black slodge, which would have the wax from a seal, makes his name difficult to decipher.
It’s not the name of the groom - Walter Snow.
The first name looks like ‘Edgerton’, and the surname starts with a double ‘f’ - ‘ffaul….r’
Perhaps Faulkner.
If you look back to the very first line of the Latin part, this would seem to be the same man who has appeared before Richard Raines to take out the licence.
The word ‘Edgerton’ is at the end of the line.
He was of the parish of Checkly, (now Checkley), in Staffordshire, a yeoman.

Perhaps the Bond part will give more information.
Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline horselydown86

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 04:43 »
I'm a rush to head out but just want to clarify that this is actually the Marriage Bond.  The matching Marriage Allegation may or may not have survived.

As goldie has concluded, the person actually bound appears to be Edgerton ffaulkner of the parish of Checkly in the County of Stafford, yeoman.

He was bound to Richard Raines in one hundred pounds of good and lawful money of England, for ensuring the conduct of the marriage according to the conditions specified in the English part.


Offline goldie61

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 05:36 »
Sorry HD!
Got them the wrong way round!  :)
Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline MollyC

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #5 on: Yesterday at 06:43 »
As far as the parishes are concerned, a marriage bond specifies where the marriage may take place, one or more parishes.  Before 1754 it therefore may allow a marriage in a place other than the residence of bride or groom.

Online Wayne N

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #6 on: Yesterday at 08:38 »
Here's the start, but it has some gaps that need looking at

Novint Univ(er)si p(er) p(ra)esentes me Edgerton Faulkner
p(ar)och(ia) de Checkly et in Com(itatu) Staff(ordiensis) yeo(man)
teneri et firmiter obligari Richardo Raines Leg(?)am Domino
vicario in Sp(irit)ualibus Gen(er)ali Rev(er)endi in Chr(ist)o Patris et
domini, Dni Thomae permissione Div(ina) (..) et Coventr(ensis)
episcopi l(eg)itime (..) in centum libris bonae et legalis
monetae Angliae solvend(is) eidem Richardo Raines aut suo
certo Attornat(o) Executoribus Administratoribus vel
Assignatis suis Ad quam quidem solutionem bene et
fideliter faciend(am) obligo me heredes Executores et
Administratoris meos firmiter p(er) pr(ae)sentes Sigillo meo
Sigillat(um) Dat vicesimo sexto die Junii
Anno Domini 1683 Annoq(ue) RR? Dni nostri Caroli
Secundi Dei Gratia Angliae &c. XXXV
NORTON (Kent), KEECH (Dorset), MOOR / MOORE (Kent), HOCKING (Dorset / Somerset), LEVI (City of York), SANDWELL (Kent), CHAFFIN  (Dorset / Somerset), STRONG (Dorset)

Offline K127

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #7 on: Yesterday at 09:48 »
Thank you everyone, particularly Goldie and Wayne for your transcriptions. My eyes would never have worked that out in a million years. Thank you also for the explanations for Marriage Bonds & Allegations, I'd not come across this before.

There doesn't seem to be an Allegation unfortunately - on the next page is half-damaged text (attached) but doesn't seem to give any additional info.

£100 seems a huge amount of money in the 1600s!  I'm very curious and will have to investigate who this Edgerton Ffaulkner is, especially there aren't any familial links to Faulkner's (yet). It seems like it's mostly family who put up the bond?

Thank you again, it's very much appreciated! :)


Offline Bookbox

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Re: Understanding A 1683 Staffordshire Marriage Deed
« Reply #8 on: Yesterday at 11:34 »
Quote
on the next page is half-damaged text (attached) but doesn't seem to give any additional info.

The ‘next page’ is actually the back of the bond. This is simply a record of the authority to issue the licence (‘Fiat licentia …’). The page has been inverted, and at the bottom it shows the 'missing' (i.e. turned-over) corner of the front of the bond.

Quote
£100 seems a huge amount of money in the 1600s!

This was not the cost of the marriage licence. It was the penalty to be paid if the conditions set out in the bond were not met (e.g. if there was a lawful impediment to the marriage).

Quote
It seems like it's mostly family who put up the bond?

Not necessarily. It might be a trusted friend, or a work associate, or anyone else who could bear the cost if required to do so.

Presumably you’re already aware that the couple married at Dilhorne (from the parish register):

Gualterus Snow p(ar)ochiæ de Checkly uxore(m) duxit Mariam Beresford p(ar)ochiæ de Ipstones Junij 26: 1683
Walter Snow of the parish of Checkley took to wife Mary Beresford of the parish of Ipstones, 26 June 1683