Hello I am having an argument with a local historian about the church at East Williamston (EW) in Pembrokeshire. Thoughts welcome on the following: EW was until the late 20th century part of Begelly parish. There were two churches in the parish, that already mentioned at EW and secondly St Mary's in Begelly itself, both at least dating from the medieval period. Begelly parish registers do not distinguish in any way between events (baptisms/marriages/burials) held at either of the two churches: everything is shown as "Begelly". (There are graves at EW although these are recorded in the Begelly burial registers). Here's the conundrum: a report of a wedding in the Narberth Weekly newspaper in 1937 suggests that this wedding was the first held at EW church. This is counter-intuitive: it must have been about 3 miles or so from the southern end of Begelly parish around EW to St Mary's at Begelly. With a church on the doorstep at EW it would make sense for weddings to be held there especially as the local roads were lousy. I am looking for a explanation as to why EW may not have been used for weddings pre-1937. Did churches have to be licensed with the bishop to hold weddings in the 19th century? I am aware of course that non-conformist chapels had to be licensed to hold marriages but this is a separate matter. Jon

Hello Jon I have noted the marriage of Frederick Merriman (brother to my gt grandfather Edwin) and Edith Mary Thomas at East Williamston on 18th October 1928 - well before 1937.  This has come from the Begelly registers at the Records Office in Haverfordwest.  There must have been some indication in the register that the ceremony took place at East Williamston and not Begelly for me to record that.  Although, if I have copied this down incorrectly I am happy to be corrected!  Regards Sandra --- On Wed, 3/2/10, Jonmein@aol.com <Jonmein@aol.com> wrote: From: Jonmein@aol.com <Jonmein@aol.com> Subject: [Dyfed] Licence to hold marriages To: dyfed@rootsweb.com Date: Wednesday, 3 February, 2010, 17:59 Hello I am having an argument with a local historian about the church at East  Williamston (EW) in Pembrokeshire. Thoughts welcome on the following: EW was until the late 20th century part of Begelly parish. There were two  churches in the parish, that already mentioned at EW and secondly St Mary's in  Begelly itself, both at least dating from the medieval period. Begelly  parish registers do not distinguish in any way between events  (baptisms/marriages/burials) held at either of the two churches: everything is  shown as "Begelly". (There are graves at EW although these are recorded in  the Begelly burial registers). Here's the conundrum: a report of a wedding in the Narberth Weekly  newspaper in 1937 suggests that this wedding was the first held at EW church.  This is counter-intuitive: it must have been about 3 miles or so from the  southern end of Begelly parish around EW to St Mary's at Begelly. With a church  on the doorstep at EW it would make sense for weddings to be held there  especially as the local roads were lousy. I am looking for a explanation as to why EW may not have been used for  weddings pre-1937. Did churches have to be licensed with the bishop to hold  weddings in the 19th century? I am aware of course that non-conformist chapels had to be licensed to hold marriages but this is a separate matter. Jon ================================ Dyfed list http://home.clara.net/daibevan/DyfedML.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DYFED-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sorry that marriage date should have said 02 Oct 1900 - sorry for any confusion. Sandra --- On Wed, 3/2/10, SANDRA DAVIES <sandramdavies@btinternet.com> wrote: From: SANDRA DAVIES <sandramdavies@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: [Dyfed] Licence to hold marriages To: dyfed@rootsweb.com, Jonmein@aol.com Date: Wednesday, 3 February, 2010, 20:08 Hello Jon I have noted the marriage of Frederick Merriman (brother to my gt grandfather Edwin) and Edith Mary Thomas at East Williamston on 18th October 1928 - well before 1937.  This has come from the Begelly registers at the Records Office in Haverfordwest.  There must have been some indication in the register that the ceremony took place at East Williamston and not Begelly for me to record that.  Although, if I have copied this down incorrectly I am happy to be corrected!  Regards Sandra --- On Wed, 3/2/10, Jonmein@aol.com <Jonmein@aol.com> wrote: From: Jonmein@aol.com <Jonmein@aol.com> Subject: [Dyfed] Licence to hold marriages To: dyfed@rootsweb.com Date: Wednesday, 3 February, 2010, 17:59 Hello I am having an argument with a local historian about the church at East  Williamston (EW) in Pembrokeshire. Thoughts welcome on the following: EW was until the late 20th century part of Begelly parish. There were two  churches in the parish, that already mentioned at EW and secondly St Mary's in  Begelly itself, both at least dating from the medieval period. Begelly  parish registers do not distinguish in any way between events  (baptisms/marriages/burials) held at either of the two churches: everything is  shown as "Begelly". (There are graves at EW although these are recorded in  the Begelly burial registers). Here's the conundrum: a report of a wedding in the Narberth Weekly  newspaper in 1937 suggests that this wedding was the first held at EW church.  This is counter-intuitive: it must have been about 3 miles or so from the  southern end of Begelly parish around EW to St Mary's at Begelly. With a church  on the doorstep at EW it would make sense for weddings to be held there  especially as the local roads were lousy. I am looking for a explanation as to why EW may not have been used for  weddings pre-1937. Did churches have to be licensed with the bishop to hold  weddings in the 19th century? I am aware of course that non-conformist chapels had to be licensed to hold marriages but this is a separate matter. Jon ================================ Dyfed list http://home.clara.net/daibevan/DyfedML.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DYFED-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ================================ Dyfed list http://home.clara.net/daibevan/DyfedML.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DYFED-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi, Just a thought, could the church have been closed for a period for repairs or similar and just re-opened. Katherine ----- Original Message ----- From: <Jonmein@aol.com> To: <dyfed@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 5:59 PM Subject: [Dyfed] Licence to hold marriages > Hello > > I am having an argument with a local historian about the church at East > Williamston (EW) in Pembrokeshire. Thoughts welcome on the following: > > EW was until the late 20th century part of Begelly parish. There were two > churches in the parish, that already mentioned at EW and secondly St > Mary's > in Begelly itself, both at least dating from the medieval period. Begelly > parish registers do not distinguish in any way between events > (baptisms/marriages/burials) held at either of the two churches: > everything is shown as > "Begelly". (There are graves at EW although these are recorded in the > Begelly burial registers). > > Here's the conundrum: a report of a wedding in the Narberth Weekly > newspaper in 1937 suggests that this wedding was the first held at EW > church. This > is counter-intuitive: it must have been about 3 miles or so from the > southern end of Begelly parish around EW to St Mary's at Begelly. With a > church > on the doorstep at EW it would make sense for weddings to be held there > especially as the local roads were lousy. > > I am looking for a explanation as to why EW may not have been used for > weddings pre-1937. Did churches have to be licensed with the bishop to > hold > weddings in the 19th century? > > I am aware of course that non-conformist chapels had to be licensed to > hold > marriages but this is a separate matter. > > Jon > > ================================ > Dyfed list http://home.clara.net/daibevan/DyfedML.html > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DYFED-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >