Hello Margaret The Marriage Bonds and Allegations - in 2 parts - usually give: The names and ages of the couple and their status - bachelor, spinster, widow/er. Their places of residence. In the case of a minor there may be a separate note attached, giving a parent or guardian's permission for the licence to be applied for. The names, occupations, and place of residence of 2 Bondsmen - one of whom is usually the bridegroom to be. The said Bondsmen :are Bound and firmly Obliged ...... in the Sum of two Hundred Pounds of good and lawful of Great Britain". The money to be forfeit should the proposed marriage be found illegal. The second bondsman could be a relation of the bride, the employer of one of them, or, a friend. Occasionally, one of the "Bondsmen" is the bride. Have to admit I've only seen one instance of this - the lady was marrying a dancing master. How I wish I had taken a copy at the time I saw it!! The date of the application (the one I'm loking at is dated 29th June 1737) - which could be 1 day or a few months before the actual ceremony - and the name of the Church where the ceremony is likely to take place. The Bond is signed (or marked) by both Bondsmen and the Surrogate for the local Ecclesiastical Authority - often the local Vicar. The Allegation is signed (or marked) by the groom and the Surrogate Minister. Regards Mabel in NZ From: "Margaret Elliott" <meelliott@btinternet.com> To: <WEST-RIDING@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 2:32 AM Subject: [WRY] Marriage Licence >I am trying to find whether or not the licence for the marriage of > John STRAFFORD and Ann CROSSLEY on 7 March 1799 in Wath upon Dearne > had any useful information. Can anyone help? > Regards > Margaret > Switzerland

Thank you so very much for all this information Mabel. I am determined to get hold of a copy of this marriage bond and allegation now as it could answer several questions for me. I have had several ancestors married by licence, and had not appreciated how much information could be obtained from them. I guess the archives at York would be the correct place to contact? Kind regards Margaret On 17 Sep 2007, at 23:32, Keith & Mabel Jowsey wrote: Hello Margaret The Marriage Bonds and Allegations - in 2 parts - usually give: The names and ages of the couple and their status - bachelor, spinster, widow/er. Their places of residence. In the case of a minor there may be a separate note attached, giving a parent or guardian's permission for the licence to be applied for. The names, occupations, and place of residence of 2 Bondsmen - one of whom is usually the bridegroom to be. The said Bondsmen :are Bound and firmly Obliged ...... in the Sum of two Hundred Pounds of good and lawful of Great Britain". The money to be forfeit should the proposed marriage be found illegal. The second bondsman could be a relation of the bride, the employer of one of them, or, a friend. Occasionally, one of the "Bondsmen" is the bride. Have to admit I've only seen one instance of this - the lady was marrying a dancing master. How I wish I had taken a copy at the time I saw it!! The date of the application (the one I'm loking at is dated 29th June 1737) - which could be 1 day or a few months before the actual ceremony - and the name of the Church where the ceremony is likely to take place. The Bond is signed (or marked) by both Bondsmen and the Surrogate for the local Ecclesiastical Authority - often the local Vicar. The Allegation is signed (or marked) by the groom and the Surrogate Minister. Regards Mabel in NZ From: "Margaret Elliott" <meelliott@btinternet.com> To: <WEST-RIDING@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 2:32 AM Subject: [WRY] Marriage Licence > I am trying to find whether or not the licence for the marriage of > John STRAFFORD and Ann CROSSLEY on 7 March 1799 in Wath upon Dearne > had any useful information. Can anyone help? > Regards > Margaret > Switzerland ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to WEST-RIDING- request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message