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From: "Tony Mitchell" <>
Subject: Re: [Lon] 1838 marriage in Registry Office
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 19:20:06 +0100
References: <411AE0BF.6030809@ozemail.com.au>


Anne said:

> I have just received the certificate of marriage (19th September 1838)
between John MORTLEMAN, widower, and Frances Berridge SADLER, widow, -
father William HOOD - which took place "in the Sup'nt Registrars Office in
the parish of St Matthew Bethnal Green", conducted by Edward MOORE,
Regsitrar.<

Anne,

If Register Office marriage arrangements in the early days of civil
marriages were similar to what they are today, and I see no reason why they
shouldn't have been, then the above details give a little more information
than meets the eye.

Usually, each Register Office has 2 rooms in which marriages may legally
take place. Normally, marriages would be performed in what would be referred
to as the marriage room, and this would accommodate a number of guests. The
wording on the certificate would state that the marriage took place in "The
Register Office". Marriages could, and still can, be performed in the
Superintendent Registrar's Office - but this is not common. Being a small
room, only the Superintendent Registrar, Registrar, Bride & Groom, and 2
witnesses were probably there. The minimum required for a marriage.

Thus, the wording you have on the Certificate, suggests a very quiet
wedding.

Regards

Tony

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