A fellow PALING researcher recently sent me a copy of a page from the Marriage Register of Houghton on the Hill . My gt gt grandfather, Samuel PALING, and her gt gt grandfather, John PALING, were brothers. There are 3 marriages on the page so I thought that you might like details of all:- HOUGHTON ON THE HILL, [Diocese of Lincoln (Hundred of Gartree)] (The Year 1804) Page 21 No 58 John PALING of this Parish and Elizabeth CLARKE of the same Parish were Married in this Church by Banns this 24th Day of May in the Year One Thousand eight hundred and four By me R. Coulton, Rector This Marriage was solemnized between Us John Paling, Elizabeth Clarke (both signed their names) In the Prescence of Thomas SWINSHER (could be SCRIMSHAW) and Henry MOLE No 59 Thomas SMITH of this Parish and Ann MITCHELL Married in the Church by Banns this 24th Day of August in the Year One Thousand and eight Hundred and four By me R Coulton Rector This Marriage was solemnized between Us Thomas Smith and Ann Mitchell (both signed their names) In the Prescence of John Horspool and Henry Mole No 60 (Xed out with big blot of ink) John NEWTON (unclear - could be Nartons) of this Parish and Alice BAINS of the same Parish were Married in the Church by Licence this 2(6)th [could be 28th] day of October in the Year One Thousand and eight Hundred and four ......... [unreadable] (The Clerk could have done with sharpening his quill and making up his ink without lumps!!) The best bit about receiving this page, for me, was seeing the clear signatures of my gt gt gt parents, John PALING & Elizabeth CLARKE. Their signatures are much clearer than the Clerk. Makes them both seem more real! If anyone would like look-ups for Marriages in Houghton on the Hill between 1584 - 1837 please get in touch. The earlier records have many gaps. They improve in middle of 17th C. but are missing, as are many, for the early Civil War years. Incidently the Rector, Richard COULTON, is sometimes named as Rich. COTTON, by his Clerk. Anne Paling SHEFFIELD, U.K.