Thank you for your thoughts, Pickard The marriages both took place in the (established) parish church by licence. Yes, a good idea to double check with the original church register. Just recently I've had an instance where the bride's father's forename was Richard on the GRO copy cert but William on the original church register. Kind regards Caroline On 14/06/05, Pickard - Hunimex <pickard@hunimex.com> wrote: > Hi Caroline, > > There may be several reasons - one of which may stem from the groom being in > the army, hence perhaps was informed that the first marriage was not legal, > and he wanted to make sure he was legally married and registered. > > The second I can think of, is that each marriage was in a different > denomination church, one for the groom and one for the bride. The delay may > be caused by his annual leave. > > I would check the church records if still available, and get full details > directly from the register, rather than from the marriage certificate - > Check the banns too. There may be notes in the margin etc. > > Happy Hunting > > Pickard Trepess > Nagykanizsa, Hungary > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Caroline Lancaster" <sussexfolk@gmail.com> > To: <SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 1:52 PM > Subject: Two Weddings and a Puzzle > > > Can anyone help please with ideas as to why a couple would have > > undergone two marriage ceremonies 1 year and 9 months apart: > > > > Sep 1903 at Scotforth, Lancs - groom a bachelor of 29, a merchant of > > Lancaster; bride a spinster of 22 of Ripley, Yorks. > > > > June 1905 at Southport, Lancs - groom a bachelor of 30, a merchant of > > Southport; bride a spinster of 24 of Halifax, Yorks. > > > > The groom used a different surname for the second marriage although he > > did not formerly announce that he wanted to be known by the new > > surname until Feb 1906, when he put an entry in the Times 6 days after > > the birth of their first child (whose birth was registered in March > > 1906 in the old surname!) > > > > They are definitely the same couple (and family bible shows both > > marriages) and their ages are correct, confirmed by birth certs. It's > > thought that the groom may have been on leave from the army when he > > married, but not known if this was for the first or the second time. > > > > Thoughts welcomed. > > > > Best regards > > Caroline Lancaster > > > > ______________________________ > >