| Description | These records relate only to that minority of marriages for which a licence was issued by the bishop. Most marriages were celebrated after the calling of banns, and these are not recorded in B/C/6-7. The allegations (B/C/6) are statements made by applicants for a licence, asserting that there was no lawful impediment to the marriage, and they give the age (although often in the form "twenty one years and upwards") and quality, profession or trade of the applicant. The bond (B/C/7) was a surety for there being no impediment to the marriage, and was entered into by two people, usually the groom and one other man. In November 1823, the practice of entering into a bond ceased. The value of the marriage licence allegations and bonds to the genealogist is chiefly in giving the parish in which the marriage is to take place, if this is not otherwise known. They may also be useful in giving the trade of the groom, the ages of the parties, and the name of the other surety, who may be a relative. Signatures to marriage bonds may also be of value as indicating minimum standards of literacy by area and trade. The issue of a licence, of course, is not proof that the marriage took place.
Marriage licence allegations and bonds of the area within episcopal jurisdiction form a single chronological series, with a small bundle for the period before 1660 and yearly bundles thereafter. Within years they are sorted by initial letter of groom's surname, but no further, up to 1889. The series appear on this catalogue only up to 1913 but they continue to 1961. They generally consist of one application form. Occasionally parental consents are included for those marrying under age 21.
Documents which were separate from the main series were deposited as part of LD412 and are described at item level in this catalogue. There are indexes available for the main series, which are also online except for some Peculiar Court licences.
Those for the Dean and Chapter (mainly weddings in the Cathedral) are catalogued separately, as DC/C/6,7, as are those issued at other Peculiar courts (P-/C/6,7). |