Hi All There is a PR at St Mary's, Bury for the marriage by licence on 23 August 1799 of James BRIDGE, bachelor, to Mary PILKINGTON, spinster. I believe that James is my g-g-gfather, and may be the James BRIDGE (bastard) baptised at St Mary's on 8 Nov 1780 (b. 13 Oct 1780). Mother Mary CROMPTON. What does 'marriage by licence' mean. It may have been a shotgun marriage as some Henry was born on 30 November 1799. Do any listers have any further info please? Peter BRIDGE Herefordshire (ex-Nelson, Lancs)

Hello Peter For an explanation of the various "by certificate, by licence..." terms used post 1837, see: http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/marriages.htm#COL9 In 1799 all non-(Jewish or Quaker) legal marriages were in the CofE, of course, so I believe the terms said to apply to Church of England marriages only would have applied at the time. Best wishes Allen Williams Sale Cheshiree On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:18:21 -0000, <fhbridge@aol.com> wrote: > What does 'marriage by licence' mean. It may have been a shotgun > marriage > as some Henry was born on 30 November 1799. -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/