Not my family, but an interesting article. The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Pocket, and General Advertiser Friday, May 8, 1854 Proceedings under the Marriage Act John ROWE, of St Germans, was recently brought up at devonport Guildhall under a warrant on a charge of having procured marriage with one Charlotte AUSTEN, at the parish church of Stoke Damerel, upon false represententations. There is a lenghy description about the Marriage Act. he married Charlotte AUSTEN [AUSTIN on FreeBMD] 24th dec. 1853 At the time he had resided at 26 Duke Street, Devonport for 6 months. Charlotte said that she had resided there for 10 years, which was not the case [witnesses], neither had ever lived there. He should show that John Rowe had resided at Hessenford, in the parish of St. Germans, in the County of Cornwall; and that neither of the parties was an inhabitant of Devonport; that on the 26th Nov. last the defendant went to " Military Hospiatl Inn, " at Stoke, whence his request a notice of banns of marriage between Charlotte AUSTEN was forwarded to the church, and that on the day of the marriage the description set forth in the notice, etc etc. Witness statements from Mr. John SYMONS, parish clerk follows etc. etc Thomas LANE, boot and shoemaker of 26, Duke, Street --- lived there for thrity years and had never seen either John ROWE or Charlotte AUSTEN John BARTLETT, , renting part of 26, Duke street, resided there for 17 months....ditto Sarah GRAHAM, wife of John GRAHAM, resided there for seven months .........ditto Ann LUSCOMBE, also resided in part of 26 Duke Stret, for seven months......ditto Mary THOMAS, another tenant of the house at 26, Duke street, had resided there 14 years.............ditto Mary Ann JOPE, rented the tenenant attached to the house of 26 Duke street, for 2 years...................ditto Mary WILLIAMSON, wife of Mr. WILLIAMSON, landlord of the Military Hospital Inn at Stoke....she becomes involved with the banns book and has a lengthy statement. Uncle to Charlotte AUSTEN is William AUSTEN, an old gentleman also in attendance at the hearing. Nicholas BRENT apprehended the defendant at Hessenford, about 2 miles from St Germans. John ROWE is aged 31 years The defendant was committed to trial at next Assizes at Exeter. Very interesting and makes one wonder how many did not get caught. Regards Bev Excuse any spelling mistakes, typed in a hurry.

Thanks so much for that Bev - so some did get found out! -----Original Message----- From: Beverley Edmonds Subject: [DEV] John ROWE and Charlotte AUSTEN Not my family, but an interesting article. The Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Pocket, and General Advertiser Friday, May 8, 1854 Proceedings under the Marriage Act John ROWE, of St Germans, was recently brought up at devonport Guildhall under a warrant on a charge of having procured marriage with one Charlotte AUSTEN, at the parish church of Stoke Damerel, upon false represententations. There is a lenghy description about the Marriage Act. he married Charlotte AUSTEN [AUSTIN on FreeBMD] 24th dec. 1853 At the time he had resided at 26 Duke Street, Devonport for 6 months. Charlotte said that she had resided there for 10 years, which was not the case [witnesses], neither had ever lived there. He should show that John Rowe had resided at Hessenford, in the parish of St. Germans, in the County of Cornwall; and that neither of the parties was an inhabitant of Devonport; that on the 26th Nov. last the defendant went to " Military Hospiatl Inn, " at Stoke, whence his request a notice of banns of marriage between Charlotte AUSTEN was forwarded to the church, and that on the day of the marriage the description set forth in the notice, etc etc. Witness statements from Mr. John SYMONS, parish clerk follows etc. etc Thomas LANE, boot and shoemaker of 26, Duke, Street --- lived there for thrity years and had never seen either John ROWE or Charlotte AUSTEN John BARTLETT, , renting part of 26, Duke street, resided there for 17 months....ditto Sarah GRAHAM, wife of John GRAHAM, resided there for seven months .........ditto Ann LUSCOMBE, also resided in part of 26 Duke Stret, for seven months......ditto Mary THOMAS, another tenant of the house at 26, Duke street, had resided there 14 years.............ditto Mary Ann JOPE, rented the tenenant attached to the house of 26 Duke street, for 2 years...................ditto Mary WILLIAMSON, wife of Mr. WILLIAMSON, landlord of the Military Hospital Inn at Stoke....she becomes involved with the banns book and has a lengthy statement. Uncle to Charlotte AUSTEN is William AUSTEN, an old gentleman also in attendance at the hearing. Nicholas BRENT apprehended the defendant at Hessenford, about 2 miles from St Germans. John ROWE is aged 31 years The defendant was committed to trial at next Assizes at Exeter.