Marriage licence Drs Commons 1791

[judb]

My Ancestor John DYER was married, 6 May 1791 • Portsea St Mary, to Lydia SHEPHARD (later records show SHEPHERD) Groom's residence given as Camberwell and also as East Greenwich Ref: church records, Hampshire Marriage Allegations.

In  Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, the index shows 'by Licence Drs Commons'

I have found some general information re Doctors Commons
Such licenses were limited to members of the nobility and their children, baronets, certain high government officials, and Members of Parliament. Special licenses were rare. In 1730, six were issued; in 1830, twenty-two were issued. In contrast, around 2,700 common licenses were issued per year., but would like to know the specifics of this case, as I have been unable to find anything of the origins of John DYER, (I have good information for him after this marriage)

Are the records from Doctors Commons available anywhere?

Thanks, Judith

[mckha489]

There are some doctors commons records at Lambeth Palace, although I confess I cannot see just what you are looking for.

https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.info/collections/library-catalogues/

Added…maybe?  https://archives.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=F%2fM%2f1%2f135&pos=3

[judb]

Many thanks - the origins for this chap elude me entirely.  He was well educated, had connections/patronage of some kind (later Chief Clerk at The Admiralty) and obviously had enough money to marry into a good family at the age of 24 - and now I find that he had enough money to buy a Commons Licence.  Later in 1791, the same year of his marriage he was occupying property at The Hill near Vauxhall Row, London. He must have had backing of some kind. Wrong side of the blanket??

Such a common name to search though! I think I may have to engage a paid researcher


Do I recognise your name from somewhere?

Thanks again, Judith

[mckha489]

Do I recognise your name from somewhere?

Thanks again, Judith

From another thread perhaps?

Yes, these well connected but elusive people drive me mad.  It is my theory that they are illegitimate, but ‘recognised’ in as much as they can use their connections and perhaps have more money than expected.  But it makes them no easier to trace at all!

[judb]

I quite agree!!

[amondg]

Not much help but the witnesses to the marriage are John Shepherd and Rebecca Shepherd.

[Bookbox]

Are the records from Doctors Commons available anywhere?

A misunderstanding here? Doctors' Commons is simply the name of the buildings that housed the lawyers' offices, near St Paul's, where marriage licences (and many other documents) could be applied for and collected from. It was not in itself an authority for issuing licences.

Licences were issued by a diocese or archdiocese. Thousands of these licences were issued every year, as explained on this page of the FamilySearchWiki
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Marriage_Allegations,_Bonds_and_Licences_in_England_and_Wales

and in the Lambeth Palace Research Guide
https://www.lambethpalacelibrary.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Research-Guide-Marriage-Records.pdf

The online index shows that the licence for this marriage of John Dyer was issued on 11 May 1791 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, through his Faculty Office. A copy of the allegation that was sworn to obtain the licence (not the licence itself) can be ordered from the link below, using the date of the licence (as above), not the date of the marriage.
https://societyofgenealogists-shop.myshopify.com/products/faculty-office-marriage-license-allegation

Alternatively, you can access a digital image free at an LDS Family History Center or affiliated library, if you are near one (Film 355541 or 355542).