Irregular Marriages.....

Man of La Mancha · Post by **Man of La Mancha** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:34 pm

I have been looking at a marrige certifcate and it says
Sheriffs Warrant. I dont understand. I was told itwas a Irregular Mariage.
Could someone please explain?

Donald

HK · Post by HK » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:01 pm

I have found that this can mean the young lady found herself in the family way and instead of the parish having her as a responsibility to feed and house ,she would be made to tell the name of the Daddy and they would marry.
HK

Moonwatcher · Post by **Moonwatcher** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:21 pm

Hi Donald,

My understanding is that it provided an alternative means of marriage to going through the ‘normal’ church procedure. It involved the couple pledging their vows in front of two witnesses, then approaching a sheriff and obtaining a warrant. This was then taken to the Registrar who would ‘legalise’ the marriage. Many did this during the war although it was not confined to this.. It saved time and allowed the soldier to go off to battle without the rigmarole of conventional wedding and banns and stuff. I have one set of ancestors who did just this. Others will put meat on the bones of this explanation I’m sure.

Bob.

HK · Post by HK » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:33 pm

Your right Moonwatcher both are mentioned in an article in my genealogy Mag.I should have got it out.

HK

Moonwatcher · Post by **Moonwatcher** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 4:40 pm

No probs Heather. There was a LOT of discussion on this very topic on SP just before 'melt down'.

Bob.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:16 pm

Moonwatcher wrote:No probs Heather. There was a LOT of discussion on this very topic on SP just before 'melt down'.

Bob.

There were also the irregular, but perfectly legal, forms of marriage in Scotland of "by habit and repute" - this survives to the present day; and by promise of future marriage followed by intercourse (it sounds much more polite in Latin !! <bg>); - this and marriage by declaration were declared illegal by an Act of Parliament in 1939 !!

Davie