* Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

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avgas
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Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

Post by avgas »

Does anyone know the difference between the two? I was looking at an ancestor's entry in the church records and he was married by license whereas others on the same page were married by banns.
Dave Wilson researching the Wilson and Hill families.
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NigelBrown
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Re: Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

Post by NigelBrown »

A marriage license, issued either by church or state, authorises a couple to marry in circumstances where a marriage would otherwise be illegal e.g. if the necessary period of notice for the marriage has not been given. Whereas, in "normal" circumstances, the banns of marriage are the public announcement by church or Register Office, of an impending marriage between the couple, thereby allowing objections to be made e.g. one or other party is already married, or under age. I believe arrangements for banns vary somewhat between Church denominations.
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AnneEast
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Re: Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

Post by AnneEast »

Banns are more usual if the marriage is to be in the 'home' parish of the bride or groom. A licence could allow the couple to marry in another church, not the home parish of either of them. Different levels of licence from Bishop to Archbishop would be required for different circumstances. (A marriage in a Cathedral needs an Archbishop's licence). A licence also enabled a much quicker marriage, avoiding the 'residence' qualification for Banns.

It did (does) cost more for a licence and it is said that it used to be a bit of a status symbol to get married by licence, thereby showing you could afford it.

Anne
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avgas
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Re: Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

Post by avgas »

Thanks for the answers, much appreciated.
Dave Wilson researching the Wilson and Hill families.
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mjashby
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Re: Difference between marriage by license and marriage by banns?

Post by mjashby »

There are various reasons people historically chose to marry by License even though, from 1754 until 1837 all marriages in England & Wales had to take place in a Parish Church (apart from Quaker or Jewish marriages) including:

- Non-conformists might choose Marriage by Licence in preference to having Banns read in the Parish Church.
- People from different Parishes might not have wanted to go to the trouble of arranging for Banns to be read in both Parishes.
- Not wanting to announce the intended marriage openly in the Parish, for whatever reason.
- some need for 'urgency', which precluded waiting for Banns to be read in 3 consecutive weeks.
- Because they wished to marry in a specific Church, but weren't resident in that Parish.
- and quite possibly because it was sometimes seen as demonstrating that the couple were of a higher status than the 'common parishioners', or simply wealthy enough not to have to conform to normal practice.
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