In message <[email protected]> Sharon Newman <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Listers I have found an entry in the above records concerning a > family tree member but I have not come across the term Allegations in > relation to marriage. Can someone please help and explain what an > Allegation is. Thanks Peter Newman >From The Local Historian's Encyclopedia: Marriage Licences - these date from the early 16th century and were a device to avoid the inconvenience banns. Licences were usually obtained from the diocese in which one of the parties resided and in which the marriage was to take place, although in certain circumstances application could be made to the Vicar-General of the province. An ALLEGATION was sworn by one of the parties that no impediment to the marriage existed. Chris Shepheard -- Chris Shepheard writing as himself [email protected] from far west Surrey www.chrispics.co.uk