how do I obtain a marriage "license"

[jeffrey.bean]

I just received a marriage cert. the bride and groom where married by license. How and can I obtain a copy of the license.

The couple where married in St. James Parish Church of Walton on the Hill in Lancashire

Thanks,
Jeff
USA

[Clive Blackaby]

see reply to your other thread


http://www.british-genealogy.com/for...ad.php?t=11185

[Geoffers]

I just received a marriage cert. the bride and groom where married by license. How and can I obtain a copy of the license.

What you are more likely to obtain is:

The licence allegation - the oath sworn by the bride and groom, in which they identify themselves and where they will marry, and swear that there was no "lawful Let or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other cause whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage."

and/or

The bond, a form of warranty or obligation entered into by the groom and a parent/guardian, to forfeit a sum of money if the marriage did not take place.

Surviving documents may well be held at the County Record Office. I would suggest trying there first.

Geoffers

[jeffrey.bean]

Geoffers, so your saying there is'nt to much information that would be usefull in a genealogy point of view?

[Geoffers]

Geoffers, so your saying there is'nt to much information that would be usefull in a genealogy point of view?

No, it depends on when the licence was issued, but there will be some useful information on the allegation and bond. Those I have seen are on printed forms with spaces left to be filled in for personal information.

You asked specifically about obtaining a copy of the licence. I just wanted to point out that it isn't the licence that you are likely to find.

Geoffers

[jeffrey.bean]

Thanks for the clarification, I just sent an e-mail to the Lancashire Records Office. Well see what turns up.

[jeffrey.bean]

Looks like I may have missed out on this one,this is the responce I received fromthe Liverpool Records Office:

Dear Mr Spencer,

Thank you for your enquiry. When a couple are married by licence they
are
given the licence - so there will be no copy available. Had the
marriage
taken place several years earlier or several years later there may have
been
a record of the marriage bond or allegation, but your ancestors
marriage
fell into a period when these were either not issued or not retained.

We do not hold any records for St James Church, As Walton on the Hill
is in
the diocese of Liverpool you may want to contact the Liverpool Record
Office
at:

Liverpool Record Office,
Central Library,
William Brown Street,
Liverpool
L3 8EW

Cheers,
Jeff

[Guy Etchells]

Looks like I may have missed out on this one,this is the responce I received fromthe Liverpool Records Office:

Dear Mr Spencer,

Thank you for your enquiry. When a couple are married by licence they
are
given the licence - so there will be no copy available. Had the
marriage
taken place several years earlier or several years later there may have
been
a record of the marriage bond or allegation, but your ancestors
marriage
fell into a period when these were either not issued or not retained.

We do not hold any records for St James Church, As Walton on the Hill
is in
the diocese of Liverpool you may want to contact the Liverpool Record
Office
at:

Liverpool Record Office,
Central Library,
William Brown Street,
Liverpool
L3 8EW

Cheers,
Jeff

Very good except they miss out a couple of important facts.
The licence is issued prior to the marriage (it enables the marriage to take place) and is given to one of the couple.
The licence is then given to the registrar or the incumbent to show that the marriage may lawfully proceed.
Some incumbents retained the licence in the parish chest, others threw it away, others gave it back to the couple.
Cheers
Guy

[jeffrey.bean]

Thanks Guy,

I'll try the St. James Parish Church, cant hurt.

Cheers,
Jeff