Seeing references to Cornhill on the list recently reminded me of an issue I have never resolved. William BOOKLESS married Janet WILSON 'irregularly' at Branxton and Cornhill on 11th May 1791. This fact appears in the Coldingham Priory Sessions book. It says precisely, 'were irregulaly married according to the form of matrimony prescribed and used by the Church of England by Wm. Whinfield, minister of Branxton and Cornhill.' Would such a marriage appear in the marriage Registers at Branxton or Cornhill? Does such a marriage appear in the marriage registers of Branxton or Conrhill? Thanks Cyril

Hi Cyril, The fact that the BOOKLESS/WILSON marriage is referred to as irregular could well mean it was an 'Irregular Borders Marriage', possibly carried out by the said Wm. Whinfield at Coldstream Bridge, a regular place where Irregular marriages were held (633 are known between 1793-1797. Coldstream Bridge is about 1m from Cornhill but on the Scottish side of the river. I believe the fact that he is referred to as minister rather than vicar would indicate he is Presbyterian minister who would not have been able to carry out marriages in England at that time (all marriages in England except mainly Quakers had to take place in Church of England churches at that time). This resulted in Presbyterian couples being taken to Scotland to marry. Berwick Record Office does have a listing of some of the Coldstream Bridge marriages. Best Regards, Mike Simpson Penrith, NSW, Australia http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~agene