DEVON-L Archives

Archiver > DEVON > 2002-11 > 1036137648


From: "Brian Cave" <>
Subject: Re: [DEV] Quarter Licences
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 08:00:48 -0000
References: <!~!UENERkVCMDkAAQACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAAAWMU4S1VzwBGwCG7VhhMRA8KAAAAQAAAAt2Fm793s1hGPugAEWmvytQEAAAAA@koyote.com>


I think two points to consider here are - why this should occur within the
dates 1676-1683 in the instance under discussion,
- and were there any particular disabilities at that time which would
encourage Quakers to marry (or re-marry) in the Anglican church in that area
or at that time??

Regards
Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Churchill" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 12:31 AM
Subject: RE: [DEV] Quarter Licences


> Question, were 17th century marriage Licences really marked "A Quaker
> Lycence"??
>
> Quakers did not marry by clergy. Their marriage would have been a
> marriage by "affirmation" -- which was one of the three ways one could
> marry in the 17th century.
>
> According to Quaker information, in 1640 Puritans suggested that
> marriage be conducted by Justices of the Peace as civil contracts rather
> than being strictly a religious matter. Apparently this didn't go over
> well at that time. In any case 17th century Quakers rejected civil
> marriages.
>
> Circa 1650s Quakers had their own marriage procedure that apparently
> complied with requirements of the day. Quaker material says that they
> documented their marriage ceremonies by recording the proceedings and
> documenting those present. This was apparently to ensure that the
> couple and their children would not later run afoul of a probate court
> on matters of inheritance. The Quaker material I have doesn't explain
> exactly how they complied with the 17th century Church/State marriage
> procedures.
>
> Does anyone know what part a Licence played in the 17th century Quaker
> marriage?
>
> Who would have executed the licence? In the 17th century could a
> non-clergy execute a marriage licence?
>
> This is interesting.
>
> Bill Churchill
> USA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Cave [mailto:]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 5:18 AM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [DEV] Quarter Licences
>
> "A quarter Lycence". Does this mean a licence that is valid for any time
> during the next quarter, or what?
>
> IMHO it certainly can't mean that John; because even a *Special* Licence
> (only obtainable from an Archbishop) which dispenses with the normal
> restrictions of time and place, still gives very limited discretion in
> this,
> and certainly wouldn't be held open for three months.
>
> A thought occurs to me and I'm wondering if in fact the entry could read
> "A Quaker Lycence"?? Dissenters strongly objected to having their Banns
> read in
> a parish church, and it would seem likely that an application for
> marriage
> by License would avoid this publicity, and allow for a quiet wedding
> without
> the villagers gawping at them.
>
> I'm on thin ground here, because I know that Quaker marriages were
> acceptable even after the Hardwick act of
> 1754, but I have no idea when they commenced their own marriages, or if
> there was some reason why, for a period, they were perhaps duplicated in
> an
> Anglican church?
>
> Really I'm just wondering aloud, and push the thought out for what its
> worth
> as a basis for discussion.
>
> Thanks for raising such an interesting question.
> Regards
> Brian
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John and Margaret Moore" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 4:09 AM
> Subject: [DEV] Quarter Licences
>
>
> > I have been looking at marriage records for Crediton. Several in the
> > period 1676 to 1683, but neither before nor afterwards, are annotated
> > "A quarter Lycence". Does this mean a licence that is valid for any
> > time during the next quarter, or what?
> >
> > Regards,
> > John Moore
> >
> >
> > ==== DEVON Mailing List ====
> > The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon
> > (http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/DEV/) and the Devon FHS
> > (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/)
> >
>
> ______________________________
>
>
>
> ==== DEVON Mailing List ====
> The DEVON-L mailing list is co-sponsored by GENUKI/Devon
> (http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/DEV/) and the Devon FHS
> (http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/)
>

This thread: