> I have the following entry - "Dec. 6th, 1825 - John > Main of this Parish and > Mary Finlay of the parish of Dyke being > matrimonially contracted since > married". > > This was extracted from the Nairn Parish Records. > I have often wondered > what it all meant. From what I now read in this > list there would have > been a marriage contract of some sort and they were > married, but where? in > the Parish of Dyke? in the Parish of Nairn? and > would that have been > earlier than Dec. 6th, 1825? > > Are these marriage contracts searchable and if so, > where? > > I would appreciate some further enlightenment! As I understand it, the term 'matrimonially contracted' in this context means that they had announced their intention to marry, and may even have 'exchanged pledges for performance', that is, given some token or money to a third party, for example the minister, which would not be returned to then until after the marriage ceremony had taken place. I would be happy to be corrected if anyone has any more information about this. As for where the marriage took place, I think it likely that it took place in Dyke, because it was usual for the ceremony to be held in the bride's home, or perhaps her place of employment if she was a long way from her family or if her parents were dead. Some marriage ceremonies were conducted in the manse (the minister's house). It was very unusual to be married in the church itself. Date of marriage? Almost certainly after 6th December 1825, not before. What the parish register records is the proclamation of banns, i.e. the public announcement from the pulpit in both parties' parishes of residence. This had to be done three times to give anyone with a valid objection to the marriage the opportunity to come forward and say why the marriage should not take place. I note from the IGI that this particular marriage was recorded in the parish registers of both Nairn and Auldearn. This is curious, because if the bride lived in Dyke I would have expected the banns to be called in(and hence recorded in the parish register of) Dyke. You might find an extra snippet of information in the Auldearn parish register. Where to search marriage contracts? In 99% of cases no written contract will exist. If one does exist, it will be in an archive somewhere. I know there are some in the Moray Archives, and there are others in the National Archives of Scotland. However these all refer to wealthy families, so unless your John Main and Mary Finlay came of a landed family I think it is almost certain that there will be no contract which you could search for. HTH Anne