I would like to add my information to this debate. I have a copy of a Parish marriage & it states the husband was a bachelor and spouse a spinster and i know for a fact they were both married previously and had children both their spouses had died. This marriage was solemnized at St Stephen's South Shields 1867. I also have two instances of marriage certificates where fathers were dead and not stated on the certificate. These people had a stepfather so maybe that is why they had not put deceased . Joan On the central Coast of N.S.W Australia From: "Kelly Paquette" <kelly@vaxxine.com> Date: 13 January 2007 1:36:16 PM To: <DUR-NBL@rootsweb.com> Subject: [DUR-NBL] Marriage certificates I have 2 questions concerning an 1874 marriage certificate I just received and I hope someone may be able to help me. First, the groom is listed as a bachelor and I am almost certain that he was married in 1869 to someone else, had a child and then the wife died. Would it be unusual to be listed as a bachelor if he was a widower? Secondly, if the father of the bride were deceased, would it say "deceased" under father's profession, or would it list his occupation when he was living? I am almost positve her father died soon after she was born as he did not appear in any subsequent censuses. Would different parishes/ministers do things differently or were there strict guide lines? Any insight to these questions would be greatly appreciated. Kelly in Canada