Blyth formed part of the parish of Horton St. Mary. This entry, from the Horton parish marriage register, refers to George Watson and Isabel Mills who were married 8th January 1798 after banns. When two people are married an entry is recorded in the Marriage Register. Hardwick's Marriage Act of 1754 standardised the recording of marriage information in the register. A couple could only marry after banns were read or a licence was obtained. Banns were read to the church congregation for three consecutive Sundays prior to the couple's marriage. The reading of the banns gave any person who felt the couple should not marry an opportunity to say so. Licences were purchased from the Bishop for those couples who did not want banns read. After their marriage the bride and groom, and two witnesses, signed the marriage register or placed their mark [X] if they could not write. Marriage Registers of Horton parish are deposited with the Northumberland Archives Service.
