Hi Bev and all I got a response from John MacLeod who works at NSARM and he gave me an explanation that indicated that these County "Books" that we are looking at on the new NS website (or at least the marriage pages we are looking at) were all held together at Halifax. And when the clerk grabbed a book, he/she may have grabbed the wrong book to write the info in. In my case, since the marriage took place in Kings County (confirmed via other sources,) the info from the license may have inadvertently been logged into the Hants Book. However, John said that these folks were very diligent in their duties, even going so far that when they found an error, they would scratch out the entry in the wrong book and re-enter it in the correct book. John also indicated that an "unusual" situation may have precipitated the writing of "other" county information into "another" county book. In my case, I know of no special circumstance that would have caused the clerk to write the Kings County info in the Hants Book. In is interesting to note that on the same page in the Hants book where I saw the Kings County info, there is another couple who got married in Halifax (also lived in Kings County) and that Halifax County info is written into the Hants County book (looks like by the same clerk by the handwriting.) I suspect the clerk might have been having a "bad day" although I understand that an "unusual" event may have caused what I am labeling a "mis-entry" for now. My apologies if my interpretation is incorrect. Thanks for your comments. Kings County is adjacent to Hants county and the place they married (Canning, Kings County) isn't that far from the border. However, back in 1868/9 travel may have been prohibitive. If it wasn't a mis-entry into the wrong book, I'm not sure what the true answer would be. Thanks Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: bsump0103@aol.com To: RiHardwick@comcast.net Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 8:26 AM Subject: Re: [nsroots] Fw: Marriage Solemnized - Continuing Hi Richard... Just had a real brainwave, and it relates to friends in Maryland... Both lived in Prince Georges County, and so had to apply for the marriage license in the county in which they lived. They were married in Anne Arundel County (adjoining county) as that is where they went to church. The minister actually drove the two miles required to pronounce them married in Prince Georges County. The license is good for the county in which it is issued and the marriage must be performed in that county. Wonder if that was similar in Hants/Kings/Hfx as both were based on old blue laws. Bev Sumpter -----Original Message----- From: RiHardwick@comcast.net To: bsump0103@aol.com Sent: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 4:25 PM Subject: Re: [nsroots] Fw: Marriage Solemnized - Continuing Hi Bev We're pretty certain that they married in Canning, Kings County. More than one responder has indicated that place. The couple resided in Kings County at the time of marriage and the husband was born there. Kings County and Hants County are adjacent to each other, but we don't understand why the husband who was born in Kings County, resided in Kings county at time of marriage and married in Kings County would only be listed in the Hants County Book. The marriage is not listed in the Kings Book. Another couple had the husband born in Kings County, resided in Kings County and married in Halifax County (another county adjacent to Hants County.) And this marriage only listed in Hants County. (Not in Halifax nor Kings Books.) In both cases the wife's place of birth is not given. But maybe these wives were born in Hants County? But I am told that only the husband could apply for the license. But maybe he was forced to by the wife? But if that's the case, why Hants County when they were living in Kings County? Confusing, isn't it? Have asked a few more friends for their input. Hopefully we'll get something favorable in short order. Richard From: bsump0103@aol.com To: RiHardwick@comcast.net Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 2:55 AM Subject: Re: [nsroots] Fw: Marriage Solemnized - Continuing Richard... Can you scan in the page that shows the place in Hants County. Someone may recognize it as a former name of a place in Hants or Kings Counties that no longer exists. I'm thinking specifically about my hometown in Colchester Co. It was Folly Village until 1908 and then it was changed to Glenholme (pop. 93). This is a possibility for the village in Hants. Just a thought, but did the county lines change. This community could have been in either county if the line changed or maybe close enough to the line that both places claim it. Another example of what I'm talking about...Bristol TN or VA...the state line runs through the middle of the town so half is in each state. Take care... Bev Sumpter -----Original Message----- From: RiHardwick@comcast.net To: NSroots@ednet.ns.ca; NOVA-SCOTIA@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 2:53 AM Subject: [nsroots] Fw: Marriage Solemnized - Continuing Hello again Just an update from a several responders. Possible scenarios: (1) It may have been that the members of this marriage were part of a religious sect that only had their "official" minister available in Hants County where they traveled from the "other" county of marriage (be it Kings or Halifax) to Hants County to get their marriage "official" solemnized. (2) Or it could have been that one member of the wedding party was born in Hants county while the other member was born/married elsewhere. For the Halifax County marriage that shows up on the Hants County books, it appears that the husband was born in Kings County while it doesn't indicate where the wife was born. Maybe she was born in Hants County? And therefore was listed in Hants after marriage? (3) For the Kings County marriage that shows up on the Hants County books, the husband was also born in Kings County, and again, it doesn't indicate where the wife was born. In each of these marriages, the wife was also residing in Kings County at time of marriage. Could this wife have been born in Hants County as well? (4) If this is the case in (2) and (3) above, the next question ought to be - Why are these 2 marriages not listed in the Halifax Book or the Kings County Book? Only found in the Hants County Book. (5) Further ideas welcomed Richard ***************************************************** Hello again I just pulled up the 1911 Hants County census areas and there is no locality in Hants county that is even near the spelling of what looks like "Canning" that is in the Hants Book. Other marriages above and below this one all show marriages in towns in Hants County. Just may remain a mystery. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Hardwick To: NS ednet list ; NOVA-SCOTIA Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 6:30 PM Subject: Fw: Marriage Solemnized Hello again I found the following after a "Google" search which explains solemnization of marriages in Nova Scotia. However, it doesn't say anything about any assumed reason that a "solemnized" Canning marriage (Kings County) is in the Hants County book. Any ideas? Richard ********************** http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11135a.htm XI. MARRIAGE LAWS By the provisions of the British North America Act, the subject of marriage and divorce is assigned to the Dominion Parliament, and that of the solemnization of marriage to the legislature of the province. The former body, under this distribution deals with the capacity to contract marriage, and in pursuance of such power it has enacted (R. S. C., c. 105) that "a marriage is not invalid merely because the woman is a sister of a deceased wife of the man, or a daughter of a sister of a deceased wife of the man". The provincial statute (R. S. N. S., 1900, c. 111) deals with the mode of solemnizing a marriage within the province. It provides that every marriage shall be solemnized by a minister of a church or religious denomination, being a man and resident in Canada, who is recognized as duly ordained according to the rites and ceremonies of the church or denomination to which he belongs. Persons belonging to the society known as the Salvation Army may be married by any duly appointed male commissioner or staff officer of the society. No person shall officiate at the solemnization of any marriage unless publication has been made of the banns of the marriage or a licence has been obtained for the solemnization of the marriage. The banns shall be published in any church at the place in which one of the parties resides by the officiating clergyman in an audible voice during the time of Divine service, and if there is more than one public service in the church on each Sunday, such publication shall be made at three several services held on two or more Sundays; otherwise the publication may be at two several services on two Sundays. Every marriage shall be solemnized in the presence of at least two witnesses. After the solemnization of the marriage the clergyman solemnizing the same shall make out a certificate containing the date of the marriage, the place thereof, the date of the publication of the banns, the church in which and the clergyman by whom the banns were published, the names of the witnesses and his own name, and the religious denomination to which he belongs. The marriage register giving the above particulars, and also the names, ages, residences, etc., of the parties and their parents shall also be filled up. Returns in the prescribed form shall be made by the clergyman to the nearest issuer of marriage licences within ten days after the solemnization. Forms for that purpose are furnished by the issuer of marriage licences. Large penalties are provided for solemnizing marriage without banns of marriage or licence, for refusing to publish the banns, for solemnizing under an illegal licence, and for failing to return the marriage register. From: Richard Hardwick To: NS ednet list ; NOVA-SCOTIA Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 3:31 PM Subject: Marriage Solemnized Hello all At the new NS website I found a Jonathan RAND=Rebecca J HARDWICK marriage of 1869 (Rebecca was a widow, being born McLATCHEY.) Anyway, according to the "Marriages Solemnized in the County of HANTS" their entry is entered in the HANTS book. Now, the question is - It looks like the city where they married is Canning. At least it looks like Canning. Hard to read!! And Canning is in Kings County. They married in 1869 which is long after Kings and Hants divided into separate counties, right, or am I going on incorrect info? It indicates that Jonathan was born in Cornwallis, which also is in Kings County. What does "solemnization" mean with respect to these entries? Is it possible to have married in Kings County and then get a marriage "solemnized" in Hants County? Little confused on this one. Thanks Richard Hardwick (Researching direct lines in Nova Scotia and New England - HARDWICK, ARMSTRONG, BARTEAUX, SPURR, HENDERSON, BLACKMAR, MARSH) RiHardwick@comcast.net ___________________________________________ nsroots mailing list nsroots@ednet.ns.ca http://mailman.ednet.ns.ca/cgi-bin/listinfo/nsroots ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.