Hi Josephine and list. >Re your re-interpretation of an interpretation of forbidden Marriage>Laws and the fact that these Laws originated in 1560 and remained unchanged>until the 20th Century... It is not my interpretation......the table of kindrid and affinity is printed in the back of every book of common prayer. >The statement 'they were likely from>different Parishes' was unlikely to make any difference, because this is why>they read Banns in both Parishes, in order that such a situation was>unlikely to occur. >Also someone who knew the couple's history was required>to go with them to attend the Marriage...i.e. witnesses... You only have to look at Sheffield St Peters marriages to know that this did not happen,as the same two people sign as witnesses in numerous marriages,and people could not afford to pay for the Banns to be read in both parishes that is why they gave ficticious addresses. They only had to testify that they had lived in the parish for 3 weeks to be married in that parish. It was only after 1823 that banns had to be read in both the bride's and groom's parishes, and before 1753 (Hardwickes Act) there's generally no recording of banns having been read. Angela _________________________________________________________________ The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail http://www.newhotmail.co.uk