Irregular Marriage OPR

[LesleyB]

therefore the payment to the poor

Payment into the Parish funds (often used for the poor) is pretty standard I think for a marriage. I'd not read anything unusual into that,

best wishes
Lesley

[Grothenwell]

Hi Lesley, Thanks again for your knowledge and input once more, I really appreciate it. I am aware of payments, donations and fines to the parish funds. I wasn't aware that a marriage would necessitate a payment as it isn't mentioned in any "normal" proclamations in the OPRs I have seen before. However I suppose there would have been some payment as a standard of course, just not normally quoted. As you'll have seen yourself most paid 3/4, but one 6/8 and another £1.1. Probably on ability to pay presumably.

[Grothenwell]

Another thought; might it be that these gents are kirk session members?
Without first names, Messrs Forbes, Ogilvie & Abercrombie & may be difficult to tie down....
However, Mr Forbes' room appears to have been a location for a marriage at the top of the page. Could he be the session clerk?
I reckon a look at the session minutes may be helpful. If Messrs Forbes, Ogilvie & Abercrombie are regularly mentioned as being at meetings then that would help place them, and if not, then we know they are not session members; they may get other mentions which would help place them.

This illustrates very nicely the great disadvantage of seeing only one OPR page out of context and in isolation.

A browse through the OPR microfilm at your local library/FHS ( I note you are in Aberdeen area) would no doubt also help to put these entries into a more meaningful and helpful context for you.

(For what it is worth, my guess would be that Messrs Forbes, Ogilvie & Abercrombie will make regular appearances, but I
may be wrong!)

Yes Lesley you are correct; I did look at the OPR marriages and the page I looked at was the same as previous and later pages going on for a decade or more.

Thanks for the insight and knowledge shared.

All the best

Grothenwell

[LesleyB]

Hi Grothenwell

Glad you have made some progress. I think a "stroll" through the OPRs is never time wasted; it gives you a much fuller picture and more of a feeling for the people and the times, even if you don't come across any further mentions of your ain folk in the pages!

That maybe indicates that they are Kirk Session members, if they keep appearing. If you get a chance, a look at Kirk Session records for the period should confirm that.

Best wishes
Lesley