Genealogy Chat

It doesnt seem to make sense - what does anyone think? William Sharwood and his wife Barbary Hower married in 1784: The marriage index gives TWO places of marriage for them. One being St James, Westminster, London. The other being Salehurst in Sussex. I can only think they got married in each others parishes, but the entries are on the same date! Back in 1784 they couldnt have travelled that distance and gone through two ceremonies in a day, even if they were quick 5 minute weddings. I have their daughters baptism entry, which backs up the names, although Williams is spelt wrong on the marriage. Barbary was a traveller from Cheshire apparently.
Sussex marriage index: (from Warehorne Parish registers), also on IGI
William HAREWOOD
Barbara HOWER
By Banns
Witnesses:
Stephen BLUNDELL
Edward MERRITT
The Westminster entry was given to me by someone who did a general look up and found it.

This is the London one:
Barbary Hower
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 1784
Marriage Place: St. James, Westminster, London, England
Spouse: William Sharewood
FHL Film Number: 1067298
Reference ID: 2:3BN2MMB

Are you sure both entries are for the actual marriage?

Could it be that the banns were read in both the bride and the groomes parish

Roy

I dont know Roy, I had thought it was for the marriage but thats a good thought ....but wouldn't they both have to be present for the banns to be read? I dont think they could be present at both places even if there were a few hours between.

Banns are read before a wedding can take place

You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. This is often done over three consecutive Sundays but does not have to be.

Like i said if the bride and groom where from different parishes banns would be read in both parishes

see http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/youre-welcome/reading-of-banns.aspx

I have looked and cannot find the entries you quoted

Roy

Barbary Hower, "England Marriages, 1538–1973 "
Name: William Sharewood
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Age:
Spouse's Name: Barbary Hower
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age:
Event Date: 19 Feb 1784
Event Place: Salehurst, Sussex, England
Father's Name:
Mother's Name:
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Race:
Marital Status:
Previous Wife's Name:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M13533-5
System Origin: England-ODM
GS Film number: 1067298
Reference ID:

Ive re-found the entries, theyre accurate. I just thought that its vital the couple are present for the banns or the marriage cannot take place, its basically a church law.

Even the church recognise people cannot appear at two different places at the same time,

The logic your applying means no two people would ever be able to get married unless they both came from the same parish.

Roy

True, but my step father was verger of a church and I spent a lot of time there at weekends and school holidays, I remember the couples being present for the banns - very strict, otherwise the marriage could not go ahead. I've since heard of banns being read days apart for couples from different parishes so that they can and will be present. I suppose it may depend on the church, high churches are known to do things by the book. Maybe it was different in the late 1700's.

Did you not look at the link i posted Ref Banns

Roy

I cant see how they would expect people to be at the church for the Banns back then.....How long would it take to travel 50 miles in those days, when they probably only had one day off a week if lucky

You basicaly had 3 months for the banns to be read

You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. This is often done over three consecutive Sundays but does not have to be

There is nothing in the rules on Banns that says they have to be read in both parishes "on the same sunday" Just that they have to be read in both parishes



Roy

The banns for my marriage were read in two parishes in two countries - my home parish in Buckinghamshire and my husband's home parish in Northern Ireland. Both of us attended for the readings in Buckinghamshire but neither of us attended the Ulster ones (MIL did though).

Having googled travel in the 1780s it came up with this which is approx. the same distance from London to that part of Sussex

Travel

Travel was slow, difficult and expensive. It took all day to travel about 100 km by coach and longer by cart.

So where ever the pair of them were living at the time it was more or less unreasonable for them to be expected to attend

Reading of Banns has a function "it's to announce the intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the marriage may not lawfully take place"

so long as that function was fulfilled i see no reason for why a couple should have to be prescent at both parishes as i said before, Even the church recognise people cannot appear at two different places at the same time,

Roy

Sounds like a Banns register to me.

The C of E rules are that if you are marrying by Banns, they must be read out at the parish church of both parties, plus the church at which they intend to marry, which may or may not be either of the other 2. They are read out 3 times in the previous period before the marriage, not sure exactly how long this is, but can find out if required. They seem to be read out on 3 consecutive Sundays, again I'm not exactly sure if this is the ruling.

And it isn't a requirement for the couple to attend for the readings, though I'm sure it's encouraged. When I was married 40 years ago, the church we married at was where I had attended for many years, but no longer lived in the parish. I was still on the electoral roll though, as it was a requirement then, not any longer.
Our Banns were read there, plus at the parish church where I lived but didn't attend, and at the parish church where OH lived, but had never attended, as his family went to the URC.
And the same for my D 5 years ago, Banns were read at my church, where they married, plus at the parish church where they both lived but never attended.

Thanks Jax. Thanks Grannyfranny.

Re safc's post:

A catalog search shows:
Film Notes (This family history center has 3 of 3 films/fiche.)
Note Location Collection/Shelf Film/DGS
General register (baptisms, marriages, burials) 1575-1782; Marriages 1754-1786; Banns 1754-1786; Marriages and banns 1786-1806 Family History Library British Film 1067298 Items 4-9

So there's no knowing if this was from a register for Marrs or for Banns or for both mixed together.

There is no requirement for the couple to be present when the Banns are read

Thankyou all, MGNV big thanks for your time, that's confirmed what I thought. All the best.