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Archiver > GENBRIT > 1998-07 > 0901131814


From: Jean M.W. Gilson< >
Subject: re: Marriage bonds
Date: 22 Jul 1998 11:23:34 -0700


>I have 2 questions about Marriage Allegations & Bonds.
>
>1. Would the applicant and his guarantor have to travel to
>the Bishop's seat in his diocese in order to make the allegation
>and post the bond? Or would this be done in the local parish?
>
>2. In one case a rather large sum of money for the time, £200,
>was posted as a bond. Would the guarantor or the applicant
>be investigated in some way in order to show that the money
>would be available in case of a default in the declaration made
>to obtain the license? Or perhaps were guarantors people who
>did this as an occupation and who were registered in some way
>with the diocese?..........

-----------------
I received only one reply from the list to the above questions,
so since the diocese in question was in Wales, I asked the
same questions of the National Library of Wales. Here is
the response in case it may help someone else.
----------------
"Regarding the swearing of marriage allegations, this would probably
have taken place in the Consistory Court at Llandaff. Certainly probate
courts were held in some dioceses in England and Wales in various
towns on a regular route, and the business of marriage allegations may
or may not have been undertaken at these, but there is no documentary
evidence to suggest that this was the case in Merthyr Tydfil. There is also
no evidence of any proof of availability of bond money being required by the
courts..."

Jean Gilson E-mail <>
Winnipeg, Canada

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