Hi Everyone, wondering if someone can help me please. I am looking for the marriage record from an old Bible entry we have. 1813 Feb 13th Edward Martin married Ann Cotterill by Vicar of Walsal Clergyman Pratte wondering if anyone has access to these records and can give me the names of fathers and or witness' and address' please apppreciate any help Thanking you in anticipation Marion in Adelaide South Australia _________________________________________________________________ Advertisement: 1000s of Sexy Singles online now at Lavalife http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3Den%5FAU%26a%3D29217&_t=762256209&_r=june07_endtext_1000s&_m=EXT

Marion Walsall used to be in Staffs not Warwickshire, so your appeal might have been better directed to the Walsall or the Black Country list-serves. However, I can do marginally better than Janet because I actually went to the Walsall Local History Centre today (not specifically on your mission, you understand, it just so happened) and looked at the microfilm copies of the registers for St Matthews for you. I can confirm the date that Janet gave: 8th (not 13th) Feb. Ann Cotterill was illiterate and made and "x" in the register (her mark). Both partners were "of age", but I'm afraid that the witnesses were not related to either of them: the register was "signed in the presence of" Thomas Blakemore and John Smith. Judging from other entries in the register, John Smith seems to have been a regular witnesser of weddings, much to the future chagrin of family historians! Sorry that it is not the answer you hoped for but I did at least look it up for you. Oh, and yes, the clergyman was a Pratte. Best wishes Graham Twickenham ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Hale" <marybdorrington@hotmail.com> To: <midmarch@rootsweb.com>; <warwick-L@rootsweb.com>; <staffordshire-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:12 AM Subject: [WAR] Walsall Church Marriage record 1813 > Hi Everyone, > wondering if someone can help me please. > I am looking for the marriage record from an old Bible entry we have. > 1813 Feb 13th > Edward Martin married Ann Cotterill > by Vicar of Walsal Clergyman Pratte > wondering if anyone has access to these records and can give me the names > of > fathers and or witness' and address' please > apppreciate any help > > Thanking you in anticipation > > Marion in Adelaide South Australia > > _________________________________________________________________ > Advertisement: 1000s of Sexy Singles online now at Lavalife > http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3Den%5FAU%26a%3D29217&_t=762256209&_r=june07_endtext_1000s&_m=EXT > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > WARWICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Graham, Mary: > but I'm afraid that the witnesses were not related to either > of them: the register was "signed in the presence of" Thomas Blakemore and > John Smith. Judging from other entries in the register, John Smith seems > to > have been a regular witnesser of weddings, much to the future chagrin of > family historians! Clearly John Smith was a professional witness, but on the information given we can't conclude that Thomas Blakemore wasn't a relative. A high proportion of witnesses were related to the bride or groom, and it's the ones who have a different surname who give us the most information. Unfortunately, they're exactly the ones for which it's most difficult to prove a link. Case not proven. Best wishes Paul Prescott