IRREGULAR MARRIAGES .....

[Alice Bradford]

Hi,

I did some searching in New Monkland OPRs today and I don't understand this. It would tell who was married and how much they paid, but then it would say, "Irregular marriage" and wouldn't tell who it was that got married. I assume that an irregular marriage is when 2 people have been living together and then get married. Am I right?

If I have the right Janet Ferguson she was born 20 Aug, 1794 at Barachney, Lanark and her first child was born 1806, that makes her 12 years old when he was born. Her husband John Johnston was christened 5 Jun 1786 at New Monkland, but I can't find the record. I haven't found a marriage record either. I thought maybe if she really did have a child at age 12 that they didn't get married. I've found the record of 3 sons, but haven't found the record of my great great grandmother Janet Johnston. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Alice

[paddyscar]

Hi Alice:

It may be helpful for you to read DavidWW's post http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... r+marriage which will explain 'irregular marriage'.

Frances

[LesleyB]

Hi Alice
I note on the IGI there are various submissions for your couple estimating the date of marriage as around 1817/18, "of Coatbridge" and a couple or them estimate Janet's birth at 1796/7 - but these are only "best guesses" by others.

It looks as though other people have had the same problem you have encountered - that of finding a note of the marriage date. Although this in itself does not mean there is no record, it may well be that a record does not exist.

I see what you mean about the child seeming to be born 1806 (Allan, New Monkland) , but I think there are two issues here - firstly, what I'm seeing on the IGI for these births seem to be predominately submissions (so not be trusted 100%) and secondly the name combination of John Johnston & Janet Fergusson is not unique - if you do a parent search on the IGI you will see a couple of the same name were having children in 1789 (but in Kilmarnock, Ayr) so it may well be that care needs to be taken to make sure you have the correct kids with the correct couple - maybe all the New Monkland ones are not the same couple?

There is a birth for a Janet which would seem to be about the right time, but it is still a submission:

Janet Johnston
Event(s):
Birth: 1818 Coatbridge, Lanark, Scotland
Death: 1843 Coatbridge, Lanark, Scotland
Parents:
Father: John Johnston
Mother: Janet Ferguson or Davidson
Marriages:
Spouse: George Johnston
Marriage: 29 FEB 1840 Old Monkland, Lanark, Scotland

I've not looked at SP yet, but perhaps you have covered this?

Best wishes
Lesley

[Tracey]

Wasnt it legal then for a child of that age to marry ? 12 for a girl and 14 (ish) for a boy ?
I remember looking for it when i thought one of my gt grandmothers had a child at 12 years old .

[Russell]

Yeah Tracey

Under old Scots law a girl of 12 or a boy of 14 could make contracts and marriage was only another form of contract but it would be frowned on by the clergy and they were the civil law of the time. No police force back then.
Although 'irregular marriages' were not formally recorded since they did not take place with the blessing of the Established church ministers were supposed to record all events like births & marriages which took place in their parish so technically a marriage conducted after the forms of the Roman Catholic church should have been noted. Many refused to acknowledge such marriages and ignored them.
The role of religion in Scottish life is a fascinating topic since it caused wars, murders, executions and schisms across the country.

Russell