Communities > Newbiggin-by-the-Sea > Manuscripts About  Contact
 

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea - Manuscripts

Woodhorn St. Mary's Marriage Register (1754 - 1812)

 

Search The Site

Photographs

Manuscripts

Ordnance Maps

Plans

Printed Material

Sound

Census Information

Woodhorn St. Mary's Marriage Register - Click for bigger imageThis entry, from the Woodhorn parish marriage register, which included Newbiggin at this time, refers to Francis Taylor and Mary Robinson who were married on 22nd April 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 information in marriage registers. The same Act ordered that a couple could only marry after banns were read or a licence had been obtained. Banns were read to the church congregation for three consecutive Sundays prior to the marriage. The reading of the banns gave any person who felt the couple should not marry an opportunity to say so. Those couples who did not want banns to be read could purchase a licence from the Bishop. 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 Woodhorn parish are deposited with Northumberland Archives Service.