This one has me puzzled. Elgin Birth Register 6th Jan. 1822:- "Peter Hardy Farmer at Greenhowe in Pluscarden of Elgin and Elspet Asher his spouse had a son born on the fifth day of January 1822 named Alexander baptized" etc. Then on 4th. February 1825 there is a marriage in Elgin Parish between "Peter Hardy in this Parish and Elspet Asher in the Parish of St. Andrews-Lhanbryde". What could be the explanation for this? There is no pre-1822 marriage recorded, but would Elspet have been described as "his spouse" in 1822 if they were not married? Alexander is NM072446 on LIBINDX, but is not described as illegitimate at either his Marriage or Death. One intriguing possibility is that there is a Peter Hardy (NM025058 on LIBINDX) who died in Elgin in Feb. 1824. Might Elspet have stayed on at Greenhowe (she is still there in 1841 and 1851) and married a second Peter Hardy in 1825, having four more children by him? Seems unlikely to me. Anyone got any ideas? Alastair MacDonald

Hello Alastair Peter and Elspet may have had an irregular marriage and this was frowned upon by the church. In later years the church may have persuaded them to have a church wedding and that could be what you have seen registered. The irregular marriage, an agreement in front of witnesses, was legal, and free! Perhaps you have heard of irregular marriages, but if you want more information I shall post it for you and others. The write-up is in the Scottish Ancestors book from the Scottish Record Office. I hope this helps you. Sheila. Alastair Macdonald wrote: > This one has me puzzled. > Elgin Birth Register 6th Jan. 1822:- > "Peter Hardy Farmer at Greenhowe in Pluscarden of Elgin and Elspet Asher his spouse had a son born on the fifth day of January 1822 named Alexander baptized" etc. > Then on 4th. February 1825 there is a marriage in Elgin Parish between "Peter Hardy in this Parish and Elspet Asher in the Parish of St. Andrews-Lhanbryde". > What could be the explanation for this? There is no pre-1822 marriage recorded, but would Elspet have been described as "his spouse" in 1822 if they were not married? Alexander is NM072446 on LIBINDX, but is not described as illegitimate at either his Marriage or Death. > One intriguing possibility is that there is a Peter Hardy (NM025058 on LIBINDX) who died in Elgin in Feb. 1824. Might Elspet have stayed on at Greenhowe (she is still there in 1841 and 1851) and married a second Peter Hardy in 1825, having four more children by him? Seems unlikely to me. > Anyone got any ideas? > Alastair MacDonald > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MORAY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >