Hi Robin, A Happy New Year to you. The most obvious reason a couple should choose to marry by licence 8 miles from their home parish is that a quick marriage was needed and there was no incumbent available in their home parish at that time - perhaps he was absent on business or sick. The licence indicates the necessity of speed even though it would have only be operable in Lewes Archdeaconry, and perhaps the incumbent at Little Horsted was available. It is possible that one or other the couple’s parents had been married there and thus they were continuing a tradition, but the use of the licence does not, in my mind, indicate on its own, a family connection with Little Horsted. At not too far away Withyham, there was a local tradition of marriages by licence due to the popularity of the incumbent (see an article of mine in an early issue of SFH). Michael Burchall Sent from Windows Mail From: ROBIN COATES Sent: ‎01‎ ‎January‎ ‎2013 ‎12‎:‎29 To: [email protected] Subject: [SFHG] Why marry 8 miles from home. 1674, A Happy New Year to all. I am curious as to why a couple, both shown as of Rotherfield, would get a Lewes license and then get married in Little Horsted, at least 8 miles from Rotherfield, in 1687. Why not get married in Rotherfield?. Might this suggest that one of the couple had some family connection to Little Horsted?. They must have returned to Rotherfield as they had 9 children baptised there between 1688 and 1708. Any suggestions hugely appreciated, With many thanks Robin (9107) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message