LONDON-L Archives

From: "John Henley" <>
Subject: [Lon] Re: Requesting a definition
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 19:52:03 -0000
References: <3A7B1BE6.34E95F65@snet.net> <00ec01c08fa0$710d24c0$9e8293c3@abc> <3A80414C.3CA96CDE@snet.net>

Hi Wayne,
I am copyng this a to the list as I am sure that others - e.g. Eve - may
know the authoritative answer, and correct my surmisings -please listers!
I am surprised that is is is the entire document (where does the date come
from?):
If a Licence, it should begin [IIRC - the language that follows is only by
way of example and will vary according to the circumstances, the iissuing
authority and period in which it was issued :-)
The Licence and allegations were often on standard pre-written or
pre-printed forms, but I am not sure about as early as 1630]
"WE..... [followed by the name of the issuing authority...]
"To......[.followed by the name of the clergyman , continuing in this sort
of manner]
"Whereas Xavier BLOGGs of full age,a bachelor, of the parish of XYZ, and
Ermintrude BLIGGS, a spinster, being a minor, of the parish of ABC are
desirous of entering into the holy estate of matrimony,
AND the aforesaid Xavier BLOGGS, having appeared personally before us, or
the Reverend Murky Smith our trusty Official Principal, and the said Xavier
sayeth under oath that he knoweth of no lawful impediment to the said
Matrimony, and the Eversohumble BLIGGS, being the lawful father of
Ermintrude BLIGGS, hath given his consent in writing to the union,
NOW WE, the issuing authority, that the said Xavier and Ermintrude may the
more readily enter into the same holy estate, give you our Licence to
perform the ceremony according to he rites of the Established Church in the
parish church of Wherever, between the hours of ....
AND this Licence whall remain in force for the space of x months next
ensuing
Given under our hand and seal this umpteenth day of Whenber in the Year of
our LOrd some hundred and ...............
On the other hand the Allegation, much more commonly found as it was
retained by the issuing authority, is the document referred to obliquely in
the Licence, and will run something like this:
"Xavier BLOGGS a bachelor of full age of the parish of XYZ appearing
personally before me DEF (the issuing authority) and maketh oath that
whereas he is desirous of marrying Ermintrude BLIGGS a spinster and minor of
the parish of ABC, and that he knoweth of no lawful impediment to the
marriage and Eversoumble BLIGGS, Knight the lawful father of Ermintrude
BLIGGS aforesaid having given his consent under his hand the said Xavier
BLOGGS prayeth that a Licence issue for the marriage to take place in the
church of Wherever.
Sworn this Umpteenth day....
Before Me.....[Signature]
By Me....... [Signature]
In the presence of ...... [Signature]
I suspect that you may have an abstract of a Licence Allegation? perhaps
from a printed transcript?
I think the phrase "of her own disposing" in this context means either
1] having reached 21 she is freely entering into the marriage
or
2] at a time of her choice - but would expect 'their' disposing, not her
or
3] she has been living in Kelvedon but is now in the parish of St.Faith's

Sorry not be more help, but I am positive somewhere out there will know for
you.
Unfortunately registers for St Faiths before 1645 have not survived, and
only patchy since then.
Cheers
John
----- Original Message ----- From: Wayne Beach <>
> Hi John,
> > Sorry to be so vague - the marriage license reads "Thomas Howe of St.
> Dunstan's in the West, Yeoman, Bachelor, Aged 34 and Mary Campe of
Kelvedon,
> Essex, maiden, Aged 21, at her own disposing at St. Faith's." Any help in
> translation would be great news, Thanks.
> > Wayne Beach> Colchester, CT
>
> John Henley wrote:
> > > Hi Wayne,
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: Wayne Beach <>
> > > Thanks to all those people who responded to my request about St.
Faiths
> > > parish church in London.
> > > My new request has to do with a statement found in a marriage license
> > > dtd. 1630. Simply said, it goes like this; "at her own disposing".
Could
> > > this have something to do with her being on her own, no parents or
> > > guardian?
> > It would be a great help to have the full text of the Licence [or is
this
> > the more commonly found Allegation?]
> > Also would age sixteen have been to young for her to get
> > > married?
> > No
> > >Thanks for your help.> > Wayne Beach> Colchester, CT>
> > Cheers
> >> > John

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• [Lon] Re: Requesting a definition by "John Henley" <>