Genealogy Chat

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Hi I have just received a marriage certificate which I hoped would provide more information on parents etc. The certificate contains no signatures or names or marks of the bride and groom. It also does not show signatures or names or marks of any witnesses. (Both these areas are completely blank). The groom was a middle aged widower and the bride a spinster. They are both shown as being 'of full age'. Their place of residence is 'Forest of Dean' and neither father's names are mentioned. I already knew both the bride and groom's names.........so not a lot more information for my money. This is the first time I have come across this.....has anyone else. Jenny

is it a copy (photcopy) of an original or a typed copy of the entry?

Hi Jess, It looks like a photocopy of the original. Jenny

Did it come from the GRO or the local Reg Office? Merry

It came from the GRO

Well, the GRO copy will have been hand written by the local Registrar or vicar (if it was a C of E marriage) at the end of the Q that the marriage took place. If it was a church wedding, consider that vicars don't always make the best bookkeepers! There will be two original versions of the marriage cert.......One will be at the local reg office and the other at the County Record Office (unless it's London area) You should try and get sight of one of these other two copies to see if either is complete.....I would try the local Reg office first (unless it's London) as they should help you for free.......I would send them a copy of the cert you have............................... Merry

Thanks Merry, It was a church wedding. I shall do as you suggest and contact the local registry office. Thanks for your help. Jenny

If there are no signatures or witnesses, this is not a valid marriage. It is worth checking the original register, in case they show there. More likely, the entry was written up in advance of the wedding, and the couple did not show on the day. Such an entry was not supposed to be sent to the GRO, but a few have certainly slipped through. Is it possible than either were not in a position to be married - eg former wife still alive? - so that someone stood up during the service, saying that they DID know of a reason why the couple should not be married? Finally, if the couple lived together as man and wife, did they do it in the parish where they wanted to get married, or did they move away?

Hi Pheonix, The couple certainly lived together, both before and after the supposed marriage and in the parish where they had always lived. I know the groom was a widower and I know his first wife died, I have found a MI for her. He is eventually buried with his first wife. I have since found on another site covering the Forest of Dean an entry for this marriage from the transcribed parish records for Ruardean which is where the marriage took place, I also wondered whether the marriage was legal, it is the first certificate I have seen where the entries for signatures for bride and groom and any witnesses are totally blank. The vicar has signed it though. Jenny

Hi If you e-mail or phone Gloucester records office and explain the situation they will probably have a look for you at their records. I have asked them for a look up before and because I knew the exact date they did it for free. They then offer you a copy of it for a couple of quid I think it was. Julie

Is there another recorded date of marriage for this couple? A friend applied for the marriage cert. of a couple who appeared to have married twice. She was told that the 1st marriage cert. wasn't for public viewing and we think that as Phoenix suggests, that one or other never turned up, ( he was in the Navy, so we'll give him benefit of the doubt as he could be still away) They later married and THAT marriage cert. was available.