Hi All While researching my ancestors in Moray I came across the following three marriage entries which are entered in sequence during September/October 1849 and illustrate just how much the information could differ according to one's station in life. 1) George Taylor and Ann Milne both in this Parish were contracted in order to marriage the 15th and were married the 23rd September 1849 2) The Right Honorable John George Brabazon Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough, of the parish of Tiddown in the County of Kilkenny, Ireland and the Right Honorable Lady Caroline Amelia Gordon Lennox, Daughter of Charles, Duke of Richmond and Caroline, Duchess of Richmond after regular proclamation of Banns in the Parish Church of Bellie were legally married in the Episcopal Chapel of Fochabers on the 4th day of October, Eighteen Hundred and Forty Nine by the Honorable and Reverend Walter Ponsonby, Vicar of Great Cranford, England in presence of their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, The Earl of March, the Reverend W Turner and the Lord Saltoun. 3) Angus McPherson in this Parish and Isabella McPherson in Edinburgh were contracted in order to marriage the 27th and were married the 28th October 1849. The first entry tells us the parties were both resident in the Parish of Bellie and little more other than the two dates. The second gives us the names of the parties and the bride's parents names but not those of the groom's together with details of the Banns being called in the Parish Church and the marriage itself in the Episcopal Chapel by what appears to be a brother or cousin of the groom who was a Vicar in England. The witnesses names are also given. The third entry is similar to the first but it poses a question. Were Angus and Isabella related as their surnames are the same? It also tells us they were normally resident in different Parishes. But is that because Isabella had gone to Edinburgh to find work or had Angus come north from Edinburgh for the same purpose. Either way the field of research widens. For those who may be puzzled as to why a daughter of the Duke of Richmond should choose to marry in Fochabers in the Parish of Bellie I would explain that her family also held the title Duke of Gordon and one of their residences was Gordon Castle in the Parish. I know this does not give answers to 'brick walls' but it illustrates that not all people were treated the same. Baptisms of children to Ministers, Schoolmasters and other Public Officers often carry more detail than you would normally find and that variation can carry through to Marriages and Deaths as well. As an aside, I found the following entry in the Northern Scot recording my GG Grandparents Golden Wedding: 30/6/2001 The Northern Scot dated 16 September 1893 carried a report on their Golden Wedding which read as follows: On Friday, Mr & Mrs Alex Scott, Auchinhalrig, celebrated their golden wedding under the same roof where the nuptial knot was tied fifty years before. Several members of their family and a few friends were present, a very happy evening being spent. It is worthy of remark that Mr Scott has been in the service of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon at the sawmill during all his long period of married life, during which time, as his home is some three miles from his work, he has walked (says our correspondent) considerably over 90,000 miles, or well nigh four times round the world. Ian A C Scott