Gerry Thank you for your helpful and interesting thoughts. I have now found that 1829 was the date of Catholic Emancipation when fines etc. were no longer imposed, and more RC chapels opened around this time. Presumably RC marriages were also officially recognised after this date, though there could doubtless be hitches in getting a full system going for registration pre-1837. It's a good theory that they may have had to go into Suffolk, during this period. Or possibly found somewhere in Norwich, where Mary Ann was born. Incidentally, the family was living at Eye for a few years; the second and third sons were b. there c.1839-43. (The eldest was probably b.Woodton.) Another point which occurs is that I believe that some "landed" families retained their private RC chapels and either had their own chaplain or were on the rota of an itinerant priest. I'll be interested to know what you find out from Michael Gandy's work. Jill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerry Newnham" <gerry@kiltie.net> To: <norfolk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 7:30 PM Subject: Re: [NFK] Brooks - Potter missing marriage > Jill, > > I have to say that I am no expert on catholic marriages but have you > explored the possibility that they were married out of the county? Maybe > they had to travel down to Suffolk where there might have been a priest > available. The Suffolk border is quite close. (Closer until the NE part of > Suffolk was transferred to Norfolk. - mid 19th Cent?) > > I don't know if Norfolk was very catholic-friendly in the early 19th Cent > or whether Suffolk might have been more receptive? > > There is also the question of whether the catholic marriage would have > been recognised the the (Anglican) church authorities and the state. > > There is an excellent publication by Michael Gandy showing were and when > the catholic missions were established. I don't have a copy to hand but > know where I can get the information so will see what I can find out. It > might give you an idea where to find the records - if they survive. > > Gerry