John, I think it likely that the marriages took place at the parish church, St Mary Kingsclere. This would almost certainly have been the case for any marriages after 1753. When Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act came into effect in 1754, marriages at several Hampshire churches ceased, because those churches were not licensed for marriage. This happened at Southampton St Mary Extra, Greywell, Woodcott, Ryde (Isle of Wight), and Winchester Cathedral. Marriages at Winchester Cathedral did not re-start until 1869. Greywell couples travelled to Odiham to marry. St Mary Extra couples travelled to Southampton St Mary to marry. Marriages at Holybourne ceased earlier. From 1743 to 1823, Holybourne couples married at Alton. In my opinion, you should enter the place of marriage as St Mary Kingsclere in all cases. This directs the researcher to the correct register, and it is likely that the marriage did take place there. Any information about place of residence (e.g. "of Ecchinswell") is presumably included in your transcript of the entry. Alan McGowan ----- Original Message ----- From: John Lewis <jayell@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-HAMPSHIRE-KINGSCLERE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 9:45 AM Subject: Where did they marry? > Hi All > > I have been transcribing marriages from the Kingsclere fiche into my > database and and as you will know the Kingsclere St. Mary registers also > include the events for Ecchinswell (St. Lawrence) and Sidmonton (St. > Mary) for quite a long period. > > I have been entering place of marriage for people living in Ecchinswell > or Sidmonton as being either St. Lawrence, Ecchinswell or St. Mary, > Sidmonton but wonder what other people do. It makes sense that they > would get married in the local church rather than make the two mile trip > to Kingsclere but what did really happen. > > Do all you experts out there have any thoughts on this matter?

On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 19:31:37 +0100 "Alan McGowan" <mcgoa@lineone.net> wrote: > In my opinion, you should enter the place of marriage as St Mary > Kingsclere in all cases. This directs the researcher to the correct > register, and it is likely that the marriage did take place there. > Any information about place of residence (e.g. "of Ecchinswell") is > presumably included in your transcript of the entry. Thanks for your informative reply. I was not aware that Greywell was unlicensed for example. It may explain why I've not be able to trace some of my Barker ancestors. I do note place of residence in my records but will now have to change the place of marriage. After Ecchinswell became a parish in its own right the problem goes away tho' even then I'm not sure if marriages were performed at Sidmonton. Would baptisms have been done in the Chapelries or did people still have to travel to 'clere? -- John Lewis <jayell@ntlworld.com> from Bournemouth, Dorset, UK using Mandrake GNU/Linux 8.0 and Geneweb genealogy software Main Family Names in HAM are: Kingsclere area: BUTLER, COOPER, FISHER, FOSTER, GIRDLER, HAWKINS Hazeley Heath: BARKER, CHANDLER, LEWINGTON, NEVILL(E) Main Family Names in GLA are: Vale of Glamorgan: GRIFFITH Rumney: LEWIS Aberdare: HOPKINS & JENKINS and CMN: HOPKINS & DAVIES