William NIVEN of Forteviot

[valspall]

Hi all.

I am hoping someone can help me with a bit of a brick wall. My g-g-grandmother Margaret NIVEN was born in Forteviot, Perthshire, Scotland on the 18 July 1805 to William NIVEN and Jean EDWARD (Forteviot OPR found on Scotlands People). I am now having real trouble finding a marriage for William & Jean on Scotlands People. I have found a marriage on Family Search for a William NIVING in Dunning on 6 December 1789 but no name is given for the spouse. I have tried searching using the batch Number for this entry but there does not seem to be a corresponding female married on the same day. I know I am having a very vague day (week, month, year!) with this so would really welcome any suggestions.

Cheers
Val

[Raffaele]

I just used Family Search looking for William Niven - Spouse Jean Edward and I got all these who look like siblings
All the records I checked were Forteviot. The earliest I saw was 1790 which could fit with your marriage but it needs checking thoroughly as I only scanned quickly

William Niven Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 spouse: Jean Edward
Chldren:
Ann Niven
Euphan Niven
Margaret Niven
Thomas Niven
John Niven
James Niven
William Niven
Andrew Niven
David Niven

[olliecat]

I have found a marriage on Family Search for a William NIVING in Dunning on 6 December 1789 but no name is given for the spouse. I have tried searching using the batch Number for this entry but there does not seem to be a corresponding female married on the same day.

I've just had a look and if you search for marriages at Dunning without specifying any names at all, just include a date range of say 1785 to 1795, there are quite a lot of BLANK names where you would expect a spouse name. I don't know why there are these BLANKS and my first thought was that there might be damage to the register. However, I've just noticed that all the names that appear are male names. Will take a look at the film notes.

[olliecat]

Will take a look at the film notes.

There are two source film numbers listed for the entry of William NIVING.

• 1040067 Items 2 - 4: Baptisms, 1708-1819; Session book (includes Marriage proclamations and Mortcloth dues [burial records]), 1691-1743.
  
• 1040068 Items 1 - 3: Session book (includes Marriage proclamations and Mortcloth dues), 1744-1819; Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1820-1854

Since you have a date of 1789, I would guess that the entry is from film number 1040068, Session Book (includes Marriage proclamations and Mortcloth dues), 1744-1819.

As far as I am aware, a marriage proclamation in Scotland is equivalent to banns and is not the actual marriage itself. It was notice of contract of marriage and it was read out in the Kirk before the marriage took place. Regardless of this, one suggestion is that you order the film from Family Search and take a look at the entry.