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Border Ramblings

Tying the ‘Knot’ in the Borders ~ A look at Regular & Irregular Marriages in the Scottish Borders and dispelling the myths

30/7/2015

48 Comments

 

Introduction

As a researcher by far the most frequently asked question I receive concerns marriage records, or indeed the lack of them.  Whilst the terms “clandestine “ or “elopement” conjure up images of a hopelessly romantic nature, the term “irregular” infers something seedy and underhand.  This is simply not the case, regardless of the derogatory comments entered in the baptismal registers for the children resulting from such unions by mealy mouthed ministers.
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Equally, a marriage that took place at Gretna Green on the Western Border seems to carry a similar status involving the same romantic notions and an air of respectability and unquestionable legality.  Should the marriage have occurred in the East however, at one of the many Toll house such as Lamberton, Mordington, Paxton and most famously Coldstream Bridge the marriage seems to attract an entirely different reputation altogether, when effectively they are exactly the same, perfectly legal, and stem from fundamental differences in the laws of the two countries.
In this month’s article I hope to address the most commonly asked questions by examining these differences and the historical events behind them, in a somewhat lighthearted, but hopefully still informative manner.

Marriage in England – Clandestine & Otherwise.

In the years before the Hardwick Marriage Act of 1753, for a marriage to be legal it merely required to be overseen by a minister of the Established Anglican Church.  In many cases this was preceded by the calling of banns in Church or the acquisition of a marriage licence.  However these methods were discretionary rather than mandatory until the passing of the “Marriage Duty Act of 1695”. This effectively prevented marriages taking place in Church without banns or licence which came at a cost (tax) and heavily penalizing any clergyman who did otherwise.
This led to many couples choosing a cheaper, quicker and more convenient option of marriage, conducted in a place outwith the jurisdiction of a presiding Bishop and thus the Church itself.  A form of 18th century tax avoidance if you like.  The most famous of these was the “Fleet Prison” in London where during the 1740’s it is estimated some 6,000 marriages were conducted per year within its environs.  This equated to some 13% of the 47,000 marriages that took place annually through England, and whilst most were open and honest the system was open to abuse.
In an effort to stem this abuse (and tax evasion) Hardwicks Marriage Act of 1753 introduced statutory legislation that for a marriage to be deemed legal in England and Wales it now required a formal ceremony to be conducted in a Church, in addition to the duty payable for the reading of banns or purchase of a licence.  However, Scotland remained unaffected by this legislation and the dash to the Scottish Border by English couples began in earnest.
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Marriage in Scotland – Regular & Irregular.

Regular



Here for a marriage to be deemed ‘regular’ it merely required the ceremony to be carried out by an ordained minister, and to be preceded by proclamation or Banns.  Parental permission was not required, girls as young as 12 and boys of 14 could legally marry without it.  This rule remained in force until 1939, when the age of consent was raised to 16 for both sexes.    Neither was it a requirement for the couple to marry in a Church. It was not uncommon for the ceremony to be carried out in the Bride’s home, or the parish Manse.

Irregular

‘Irregular’ marriage in Scotland did not require any of the above to be recognised as a legal entity. 

Nor did it require residency until the reform bill known as the “Cooling Off Act” was passed in 1856, introduced by Lord Brougham, the Scottish born former Lord Chancellor.  Prior to this date to be recognised by law, an ‘irregular’ marriage came in three basic forms:
  • A couple were legally married if they declared themselves to be so in front of witnesses, regardless of whether this was followed by a sexual connection. Marriage contracted in this way without witnesses was also legal, but much harder to prove in court. 
  • A promise of marriage, followed by a sexual relationship, was regarded as a legal marriage - but this had to be backed up by some kind of proof, such as a written promise of marriage, or an oath sworn before witnesses.
  • Marriages 'by habit and repute' were also legal if a couple usually presented themselves in public as husband and wife, even if no formal declaration of marriage was made.
Whilst frowned upon by the Scottish church, it was tolerated for fear that if not recognised by law, the couple involved would be deemed ‘living in sin’.  References to ‘irregular’ marriages regularly appear in Scottish Kirk Session Minutes, when the couple would be reprimanded and either be married again or required to pay a fine, or sometimes both.  As such I fear the bemoaning by the Church was often attributable to its loss of revenue rather than the absence of the Almighty!
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The dash for the Border
Thus from 1754, Scotland provided English sweethearts with the opportunity for elopement.  The fame of Gretna Green spread and became synonymous with clandestine marriages.  However, Gretna was not alone, and neither was it unique to English couples unable to gain parental consent.  Border crossing points along the Eastern side of the country sparked up a brisk trade in such marriages too, Lamberton Toll, Coldstream, Paxton Toll, Mordington to name but a few.
This system of marriage also appealed to other social groups and members of dissenting religions, particularly Presbyterians.   It was particularly popular with agricultural workers who needed to marry in a hurry, because of the lack of opportunity presented by the remote rural nature of the Border region.  The twice yearly ‘Hiring’ fairs, market days and holidays would see a surge in business in towns throughout the Borders.  A former jeweller in the town of Berwick states that it was not unusual to sell 12 – 18 rings on such mornings, for use later that day at Lamberton Toll.
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Coldstream Marriage House previously the Bridge Inn
A fabulous, and highly amusing, if somewhat lengthy article appeared in the ‘Berwickshire News and General Advertiser’ on 12 March 1889.  It is the recollection of a former incumbent of Coldstream Toll, then called the Bridge Inn, whose backroom was used for the purpose of irregular marriage (and a further room for consummation thereof) on many occasions, in this case the marriage of Andrew Davison & Ann Scott of Shidlaw Farm, with William Dickson presiding.

It has gone midnight and the narrator and Coldstream “priest” Dickson have already enjoyed a profitable evening and are now both evidently somewhat in their cups:
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Then we come to exchange of vows and Andrew’s declaration:
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Vows exchanged, the bride, who had been rather vociferous throughout then demands her certificate from Dickson, who gently reminds her that as yet the job is only half done:
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From it we can glean a host of information about the, ‘who, where, when and why’ and the celebrants calling themselves “priests” who conducted such proceedings.  We learn for example that the spring hirings in England were a particularly busy period with up to 10 “cases”, presenting themselves for marriage during the night and hours of darkness on Fair Day at Wooler, alone.  Our narrator also confirms that this practice was equally popular amongst the local rural Scottish population residing on the north side of the Tweed.
The persons performing these ceremonies certainly add colour and closer inspection of their character goes a long way to explaining the scarcity of records that surround these ‘irregular’ unions that so frustrate and confuse the researcher.

Prior to 1855 no formal registration of a birth, marriage or death was required by law in Scotland, and we already know the ceremony did not require the presence of an ordained minister.   In the early days the trade of “marrying the folk” was performed by largely uneducated and illiterate persons, or “idlers” as described by the former occupant of the Bridge Inn, Coldstream.
Pattie Mudie (Peter Moody) & Jack Armstrong were two of the well-known Coldstream “priests”.   Virtually no records exist of the marriages they conducted as they either refused to keep them or were unable to do so. There was also Mr Ewan the tailor, who is described as being a bit of a ‘dandy’ but rather unpopular with the more ‘sober’ clientele due to his fondness of the “aqua vita”!
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Probably the best known Coldstream marriage celebrant was William Dickson a shoemaker by trade. Widowed, his health ailing and with a young family to provide for he reluctantly assumed the role of “priest” and celebrated many marriages between 1840 and 1857.  In 1844 Dickson began to keep meticulous records and conducted the ceremonies in a sincere, respectful manner which made him very popular, and helps us date the marriage of Andrew Davison and Anne Scott to around this period.  His popularity came at a cost however, when he incurred the wrath of the local Minister, Rev Thomas Smith Goldie, who took Dickson to court in 1844. 
The case was heard in Edinburgh and promptly dismissed, unlike two of his Coldstream predecessors Andrew Rutherford and James Angus who were banished from Scotland never to return “on pain of death”.  Not for performing ‘irregular’ marriages however, but for misleadingly assuming the appearance of clergymen! 
The last entry in Dickson’s register appears on 25th July 1857.  He is known to have officiated at 1,446 weddings.  It is believed there may have been many more.

“A Riotous Affray at Lamberton Toll”

Another marriage documented in the newspapers albeit for the wrong reasons, was the marriage of George Gibson and Ann Metcalf at Lamberton Toll on the night of 5th March 1842.  Witness statements to the ‘riot’ that ensued, hold a wealth of useful information for the family researcher:
Picture
Courtesy of Berwick Record Office ref BRO 515-296
  • The wedding party number approximately 20
  • It took place between 9.00pm on the 5th March and 2.00am the following day
  • The keeper of Lamberton Toll and prosecutor was John White who is cited as being a “recovered lunatic”! also present his wife Susannah and their two sons William and Alexander aged 12.  
  • The name and occupation of the ‘priest’. Joseph Atkinson a waiter in Berwick, but not a native of the area
  • The names and occupations of the accused - William Kidd, William Anderson and Ralph Johnston.  All coal miners.  All pleaded “Not Guilty”.
  • The cause of the affray? The refusal by the prosecutor to provide the party with more whiskey! and an ensuing dispute over the bill
  • That a surgeon was called for, a Mr Lilly from Berwick
  • One of the party and witness Thomas Jordan, also a pitman lost the end of his nose.  It was stitched back in place by Mr Lilly
  • The bride and groom, two of the bride’s sisters (unnamed) and one of the accused, William Anderson had left before the fighting broke out
  • The outcome - two of the accused were acquitted, the perceived instigator, William Kidd received “Nine months imprisonment with hard labour”.
From this evidence it is possible to trace George Gibson and his wife Ann through the census records.  In 1851 George is a miner at Greenwich Colliery, Scremerston, he was born in Ancroft, Northumberland in 1817, Ann was born circa 1821 at Tweedmouth, and they have three children.  In 1861 they have moved to Broomhill Colliery, Morpeth and have five children.  In 1871 they are residing at West Chevington and the census states “formerly a miner, out of health”.  A death record for a George Gibson appears in the October Quarter of the same year in Morpeth.  He was survived by his wife Ann, at least two of his children, sons Thomas 28, and John 19, both coal miners.
There is a potential baptism for Ann in Tweedmouth in 1820 to parents John & Catherine Metcalf.   Two of Ann Gibson’s daughters were named Catherine.  However, the final twist comes from the 1841 census.  George Gibson appears next door to George & Catherine Metcalf and family in Unthank Square, Tweedmouth. Occupations coal miners.  Whilst Ann is not present the evidence that this is indeed her family is compelling, especially when backed up by witness statements to their riotous nuptials from other residents of Unthank Square!

A Change in the Law and it's Economic Impact

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Henry Lord Brougham
The narrator in the newspaper article of 1889 remonstrates on the change of the law regarding the 21 day residency rule introduced in 1856, with the passing of Lord Brougham’s ‘Cooling Off Act’.  Cool off it did but the practice of irregular marriage continued, albeit on a much lesser scale until its abolition in 1939.  The change in the law obviously hit his pocket hard. He says:
“My malison be upon all those who took “airt and pairt” in the making of a law which deprived me and many more of a considerable amount of income and poor folks the pleasure of getting cheaply married without the compulsory interference of a busybody in the shape of a minister or a registrar who cannot tie the marriage knot one whit tighter that I have seen it done in my ain house in the auld fashioned way.”
Ironically, tradition has it that Lord Brougham himself was married in Coldstream under the old system circa 1819 at the ‘Newcastle Arms Inn’, but as ever there is no surviving written record!

Further Reading & Henry Collins

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Courtesy of Berwick Record Office
Henry Collins was another renowned border “priest”.  His registers from “Marriages at Lamberton Toll 1833 to 1849” have been transcribed by Northumberland & Durham Family History Society and are available for purchase, as are the Registers of George Lamb (1804-1816) and George Sharpe (1849 – 1855).  Collins was an uncommon character and a degree of lateral thinking is required when deciphering his entries.  His spelling is random to say the least.  The surname of the bride on the certificate above is actually ‘Ford’!  You can also expect to find place names such Cockburnspath written as Coppersmith, Glororum as Gloweram etc.
Berwick Record Office also has the above records, and in addition has transcribed irregular Border marriage entries in local newspapers, 1808-1864 and holds a few surviving certificates including the one above. http://www.experiencewoodhorn.com/berwick-record/  

Or you could of course just ask me of course, as I hold these records within my ever growing collection, which also includes Coldstream Bridge Marriages 1793 – 1797.  A simple email will suffice!

A comprehensive list of where to source other records can be found at:
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/birth-death-and-marriage-records/irregular-border-marriage-registers#current whereabouts
48 Comments
Jane Slade
30/7/2015 01:21:55 pm

Did you know of the engraving in stone outside the house on Coldstream bridge- ' Ginger beer sold here and marriages performed' ? It was there in the 60's - I don't know when it was removed.

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Dean Weatherston
30/7/2015 02:11:20 pm

Where could I find out more information about William Dickson? I have been researching my family tree and going by the name dates and trade I think he may be my 4th great grandfather.

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Susie Douglas
6/8/2015 01:48:33 pm

Apologies Dean - I have only just spotted your comment. I will get back to you with some websites you may find useful.

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Margaret Paterson
31/7/2015 01:35:26 pm

My mum and dad eloped to Gretna Green from Brought on in Peebleshire on a motor bike in February 1937both aged 23 ,they were married in the original blacksmiths smithy over the anvil ,no fancy chapel or register office then ,they had to have their marriage solemised in the church after they came home again

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Susie Douglas
6/8/2015 01:52:54 pm

What a fabulous story! I bet it was chilly on the motorbike.

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Heather Miller Shiell
3/8/2015 07:13:06 pm

Looking for the marriage of Andrew Shiell and Jennet Lamb in the 1840's before the emmigrated to Canada.

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Susie Douglas
6/8/2015 01:51:18 pm

Hi Heather, apologies for not replying sooner. I shall have a look in the indexes and get back to you.

Kind regards

Susie

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Heather Miller-Shiell
6/8/2015 02:15:47 pm

Thank you!

Jo Henn link
29/8/2015 12:06:54 pm

Thank you for sharing this. It's fascinating! I wanted to let you know that I've included your post in my NoteWorthy Reads post for this week: http://jahcmft.blogspot.com/2015/08/noteworthy-reads-21.html.

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Heather Miller-Shiell
1/9/2015 10:41:04 am

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Mark Ewen
26/9/2015 07:24:47 am

Hi. Really interesting article. Where would I find more information about Mr Ewan, tailor or Coldstream. We believe he may be a distant relative before the family headed south to Newcastle. Thank you.

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Angela Boon
13/6/2016 05:20:10 pm

My ancestor Marion Brown emigrated with her husband to Australia in 1857 but according to this statement in her 1881 divorce proceedings was married at Coldstream: "We Robert Walker residing in Edinburgh in the Parish of North Leith and county of Edinburgh and Marion Brown residing at Edinburgh in the Parish of North Leith and county of Edinburgh do hereby accept of each other as Husband and Wife as witness our hands at Coldstream this fifteenth day of August 1853 before these witnesses:- Robert Walker Marion Brown and William Dickson John Foster Alexander Oliver". Would there be a record of this marriage entry please? Kind Regards Angela

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Graham Divall
7/8/2016 06:39:05 pm

Susie, just discovered your wonderful article. Fine illustrations. The Divall family has a tale of Samuel Divall and Lillian Francis Ann King eloping in about 1877. Nobody has any details, of course, but the story is supported by us being unable to find any marriage certificate for Samuel yet we can for all five of his brothers and sisters. Samuel lived in Hackney, London and was from a very poor family. It seems to me very unlikely they could afford the cost of eloping to the Scottish boarders but, from your very kind offer, I be most grateful if you could
check the records you have. Kind regards and thanks, Graham.

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Graham Divall
26/1/2017 07:41:48 am

Sussie: do your records show any entry for Samuel Divall and Lilian King? Thanks.

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Derrick Small
25/1/2017 02:55:20 pm

I hold a copy of the marriage certificate of my great great grandparents
David Small and Alison Hall when married at Lamberton Inn 11th December 1830 by a, looks like Jos Atkinson

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Graham Divall
26/1/2017 07:40:12 am

Derrick. Thank you for sharing that. The certificate must be a treasured item in your family history.

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Harry Riley link
14/2/2017 04:40:06 pm

fascinating article. Thanks for sharing it.

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Bill Richardson link
18/10/2017 10:57:32 am

Hello Susie,
Loved reading what you have and the ideas have prompted some questions although I am doubtful that they come under the heading of cross-border marriages. They definitely fit as unknown marriages!
The parents of my paternal grandmother, Esther, were Thomas Howey and Georgiana Turnbull who married in Alnwick Register Office in 1861. The marriages of their parents are 'unfound'. My estimates are based on baptism records:
Sometime around 1835, Adam Howey marrried Sarah Watson.
George Turnbull married Isabella Green some time around the early 1830s
And, George's parents: around 1794, Jacob (or James) Turnbull married Eleanor Greacian.
They lived around Rothbury and Whittingham but as Ag Labs so moved. Some of the children of Adam and Sarah were baptised at Longframlington Presbyterian.
Any ideas would be very welcome.

Bill

Reply
Susie Douglas
23/10/2017 11:24:05 am

Hi Bill

Apologies for not get back to you sooner and thank you for your lovely comments about the blog. I am delighted you found it both interesting and useful.

Regarding your own 'unfound' marriages - based upon the civil ceremony in Alnwick in 1861 and the presbyterian baptism of the children, I think it highly likely that they fall into the category of cross border marriages. Before the 1836 Marriage Act which introduced civil marriage conducted by a registrar, there was no alternative for marriage outside of an Anglican Church other than to skip across the Border.

I would not let the distance put you off either, the records which have survived are full of folks from Alnwick, Rothbury, Whittingham etc and much further afield. I have had a quick look through the indexes I have here and unfortunately non of the couples mentioned are listed. This is very much the norm I am afraid - many such marriages were not recorded in the first place alas.

I hope this helps if you need any more information do come back to me.

Best wishes

Susie

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Graham Divall
11/12/2017 11:35:05 am

Hello Susie. Do you have any advice or comments re my earlier enquiry? Thanks
Accidently pressed delete me from the Blog list now I can't find out how to reverse that!

Reply
Susie Douglas
12/12/2017 10:09:05 am

Hi there Graham

Firstly apologies for not spotting your earlier message - it seems to have slipped through the net somehow.

Regarding your query - my records here only cover the period to 1864 I am afraid. However, I agree with you that the Scottish Border is an unlikely venue for the marriage of the couple you seek. I can see that there were Divall children born in Hackney in the 1870's with a mother's maiden name of King, but I have not been able to locate the family in the 1881 census which might have held some further clues.

Unfortunately I am unable to help on this occasion. As regards the blog, if you send me your email address I shall add you to the mailing list which will ensure you receive a notification every month.

With best wishes

Susie

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Gillian Haggarty
5/1/2018 11:45:12 am

Really interesting read!

My great great grandparents were married on the 26th May 1860 at Lamberton Toll.

John Haggarty or Haggerty m Mary Ann McIntyre.

I have been unable to find any evidence of this marriage except from this information being stated on their children’s birth certs.

Any information that you may have would be very much appreciated!

Kind regards

Gillian Haggarty

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sylvia robinson
10/8/2018 07:50:54 pm

Where would my ancestors have been married in Lilliesleaf or Chapple in 1740, the banns having been read a fortnight before?

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Carol Stewart
28/3/2019 11:17:49 pm

I stumbled across this page by accident but wonder if you might be able to shine any light on the existence of a marriage having taken place between my 2x great-grandparents in Coldstream, Berwickshire. Their names were William Oliver and Janet Scott or Dewar (she was illegitimate and I think Scott may have been her father's surname).

On some of William and Janet's children's birth records (from 1860 onwards), the date of their marriage is given as 7 March 1858... but I can locate no such record. I just wondered if there was any possibility that the marriage was somehow not recorded in the Statutory records (1855 onwards) but that it may have been recorded elsewhere. Is it also a possibility that they may in fact merely have undergone an irregular marriage of the type you have described?

The birth records of their first few children do not provide any marriage date... but the marriage date does not appear on the other marriage entries in Coldstream from this period either. It is however consistently stated as 7 March 1858 thereafter. I'd be very grateful for any information or clues which you or anyone else may have.

Thanks in advance.

Carol Stewart

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Susie Douglas
29/3/2019 08:04:31 am

Hi there Carol

I can confirm that William Oliver and Janet Scott were married 27th Feb at Coldstream. Entry which was extracted from the 'Berwick Journal' dated 6th March and reads 'William Oliver, shoemaker, to Janet Scott, both of Coldstream".

Hope this helps

Susie

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Carol Stewart
29/3/2019 09:51:23 am

Thanks Susie for confirming this for me. The Oliver line from Coldstream is one line which has been a little neglected by me in my genelaogical research, for the reason that I have struggled to find a number of birth, marriage or death entries which would confirm dates and places. OPRs are a bit of a hit or a miss... but this one puzzled me as the date should have meant that the marriage would have been recorded as a Statutory Marriage, as it took place after 1855. Any idea why that has not happened? Does it indicate that it was an irregular marriage and therefore not recorded?

If 27 February was the marriage date, I wonder why the couple have stated it to be 7 March thereafter... Very odd.

Thanks for your very speedy reply. Very impressed!

Best wishes,
Carol

Bill Richardson
29/3/2019 09:31:18 am

Just to confirm what Suise reports.. The report is in a book:
Irregular Border Marriages Volume II published by the
Nortumberland and Durham Family History Society.

I imagine that you could get a copy of the entry in the Berwick
Journal from Woodhorn or the British Library.

It's interesting that the date you quote is the date of the newspaper entry rather than the marriage itself.

Bill

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Carol Stewart
29/3/2019 09:53:36 am

Thanks Bill,

Indeed, I am myself puzzled by that... but the date which has been repeatedly cited for the marriage date, is 7 March, which seems very odd indeed.

Thank you for your reply and advice.
Best wishes,

Carol

Susie Douglas
29/3/2019 10:24:01 am

Hi Carol & Bill

Doubt the newspaper will carry any more info - it will just be lineage from the BMD column. Had a quick look through British Newspapers Archive (digitised from BL) and it appears the Berwick Journal is not amongst their number. Personally rather than Woodhorn I would go straight to Berwick Record Office.

In answer to your question Carol, Irregular marriages were perfectly legal in Scotland until 1940.

Best wishes

Susie

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Carol Stewart
29/3/2019 10:32:05 am

Hi Susie,

Yes, I know irregular marriages were legal... but presumably never included in Statutory Records at the National Registers of Scotland... which is where I had been looking up until now.

I suspect I'm going to find that the reason for a few other Coldstream couples' marriages not being found at NRS, is because they were probably also irregular marriages.

I may need to compile a list...

Thank you for your reply.

Cheers!

Carol

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Donelle James
16/4/2019 05:04:48 pm

I am hoping for help. My ancestor, Thomas Robson married Elizabeth (?) on the longest day of the year in 1854. This is from newspaper reports of Thomas’s trial for Wife Poisoning. One report says 21June 1854. Thomas was convicted & transported to Australia in Feb 1856. I have no record of his birth, possibly 1834 to George & Elizabeth, with such a fairly common name this can not be confirmed. According to the newspaper report, Jan 14, 1856, he did have a sister, no name given, she was living at Cox-lodge. I am really hoping to find this record & his wife’s surname. Thank you for any assistance you can give me.

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Susie Douglas
16/4/2019 06:01:20 pm

Hi Donelle

I have at Thomas Robson of Kenton married Miss Elizabeth Gallon of Heaton, Newcastle on 21st June 1854 at Lamberton Toll. Taken from Irregular Marriages Recorded in the Berwick Advertiser and Other Border Papers 1808 - 1864.

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Susie

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Minerva Spencer link
9/7/2019 02:45:30 pm

Hi Susie:

Lovely article!

I am doing research for a fictional story set in 1816. Were most of the marriages performed at the Bridge Inn during that period? Would they have been performed by Mr. Lamb? Is it likely the couple would really have been required to consummate the marriage on the premises?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Minerva

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Chris Wild
10/12/2019 02:36:27 pm

Found this blog after finding my 5th Gt grandparents were married at Lamberton Toll in 1802. The marriage at Lamberton was recorded on the entry for their marriage at their home church of Golden Square Scotch Church United Secession Presbyterian Church. The "priest" was recorded as Jno BLACKHALL, Minr. Thought this might be of interest

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du
16/1/2020 10:13:52 pm

Hi Susie,
I cannot find the marriage of a Thomas Curry and Ann. I have some births of their children in Lowick Scotch Presbyterian church in 1816 and 1819.
I think that Thomas may have been a sailor....... who I believe lived with his family for sometime at Berrington Law.

Could you please throw any light on their marriage?

Oh and by the way, although written some time ago... a splendid article, and enjoyable read.
Thanks
Duncan

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Matt Bankhead
12/6/2020 02:15:24 pm

My neighbour's great great grandparents Robert Bryce, a papermaker, and Agnes McGechan were apparently married at Lamberton Toll, Feb 1st 1844, but it took 19 years before this fact was recorded on a child's birth registration (Grace Bone Bryce). Their first born, James , was baptised Oct 20th same year by Rev Ure, minister in Ayton .

Do you have a record confirming date of this marriage ? Are any other facts available on it about Robert, who from census was 10 years Agnes's senior and born in Kilpatrick , Dumbartonshire ?

Thanks

Matt

Reply
Susie Douglas
28/4/2021 06:12:21 pm

Hi Matt

Aplogies, the notification link for comments to this post were clearly broken so have only just seen your message. In answer to your question no, I have no further information on this couple's marriage here, BUT, now that the Scottish Kirk Session records are available to search online, you may well find it recorded there if the relevant records have survived. (See April 2021 post) If you need further help do come back to me.

Best wishes

Susie

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Patricia Hudson link
3/3/2021 01:37:42 pm

Am researching marriage of William Tait and Margaret Thompson, reported by Berwick Advertiser as being on the 7th July 1949. Do you hold any further information Mongst your indexes?

Regards Patricia

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Susie Douglas
28/4/2021 06:04:26 pm

Apologies Patricia - I have only just seen your message. I think you mean 1849, he of Belford Road Surveyor and she of Shipley. That is all I have re the marriage, but if you need further help do come back to me.

With best wishes

Susie

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Robert Bellenger
8/10/2021 04:44:19 am

Hi Susie,
A very interesting read!
My 3x great-grandfather, James Robson, was born in Denwick and married an Isabella (surname thought to be Boyd). The birth of their first child in 1821 states married in Scotland. Also his father is named James and he also married an Isabel prior to 1796. Wondering if you would be so kind as to see if they appear in your indexes?

Regards
Robert

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Joan Manuel
6/12/2021 10:25:18 pm

Hi, Susie
Could you check whether there was an 'irregular' marriage at Coldstream Bridge, 9 November 1796, between Joseph Rule and Ann Harbertson/Herbertson, please? And if so, who was the 'celebrant'?
I believe they officially married following the reading of Banns a few weeks later on 4 December 1796.
I have read this elsewhere but I can't find any records to confirm it.
Many thanks for your help.

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Susie Douglas
7/12/2021 09:39:17 am

Hi Joan - there is indeed an entry in the indexes for Coldstream Bridge 1793 - 1797 for the marriage you seek. 'Joseph Rule of the Parish of Wooler & Ann Herberson of the Parish of Doddington' date 9 November 1796. No name of celebrant recorded. Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Susie

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Carol Cunningham
17/3/2022 10:56:13 pm

Hello please could you confirm whether an irreguar Marriage took place - is there a record of a marriage between Andrew Huntly and Janet McLean in October1928 at Lamiberton Toll?

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Susie Douglas
18/3/2022 08:57:52 am

Hi there Carol

Do you mean 1828 rather than 1928? 1928 too recent and would be covered by Statutory Registration. If 1828, no, sadly I do not have a record for Andrew and Janet I'm afraid.

Best wishes

Susie

Reply
Carol Cunningham
18/3/2022 10:06:35 pm

Hello Susie, re. Andrew Huntly and Janet Mclean - oops my clumsy typing, I did mean 1828. Thanks for your response, I have details of their irregular marriage recorded in 'Old Parish Registers Marriages Cockburnspath'31/10/1828 as having taken place at Lamberton Toll - could you please perhaps give me any pointers as to where else I might try,to find their marriage certificate? thanks.

Reply
Susie Douglas
19/3/2022 07:16:45 am

Hi Carol

I take it the mention of the couples marriage is recorded on a subsequent baptism of a child which is not uncommon.

Re a certificate - you are looking for something that has probably not survived. If created at all a slip of paper similar to that above was handed to the couple. It was not recorded 'officially' anywhere else. The 'priests' who were not clergy or attached to a church were very often illiterate, only a few kept notebooks containing details of the couples they married.

However, further mention of the couples indiscretion may have been recorded in the Kirk Session minutes where they may have been reprimanded and very possibly fined. The Kirk Sessions are available through Scotland's People, but sadly none appear to have survived for Cockburnspath. It might be worth checking with Scotlands People in Edinburgh if they are still to be digitised and uploaded to the website.

Best wishes

Susie

Reply
Carol Cunningham
19/3/2022 11:01:05 am

Thank you Susie very much for all your information and sharing your knowledge, during my research I am learning something new all the time!

Paul Scott
5/5/2022 01:10:31 pm

I’m wondering if there’s an irregular marriage recorded for a George Brownlees (spelling varies) around 1805-1813 or so?

Thanks

Reply



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Picture Susie Douglas Qualified Genealogist Family Historian and Writer https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/profiles/douglas-susie
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