Marriage in the Regency Era
Doing a ton of research and just need a place to put this where I can find it later if I don't forget where it is. I'll probably forget where it is. Three ways to get permission to marry (in my own very basic, very uneducated, hastily researched words): Post the marriage banns - y'know that whole 'if you know of any reason why these two should not marry, speak now or forever hold your peace' thing? Well this is about where it originated. The lady and gentleman who wanted to be married would post up a 'marriage bann' in their own personal parishes and for three Sundays in a row the vicar would read out their names and ask if anyone had any reason for why they shouldn't get married. If three weekends went by with no issue, the couple could be married. But! They had to marry in the next 90 days and it had to be in one of their parishes (of the Church of England). It couldn't just be anywhere. Also, it had to be between 8am and noon. Yikes! Second, get a Common License - this costs money, but it allowed the banns, all three, to be read on the same weekend and ushered forth the marriage to much sooner. All the other restrictions still applied. Usually gentlemen and ladies of standing would get a Common License simply because they could rather than out of necessity. Third, obtain a Special License - this costs a LOT more money but it would allow the couple to marry whenever and wherever the heck they wanted. Church? Sure. Friend's garden? Go for it. Next week? Absolutely. Today? Why not. Thing is, it costs a lot more money and it requires special permission from the Archbishop and he would only grant it to particular peoples. Y'know, nobles and peerage and baronets and knights and all that jazz. He still went about, made sure they were eligible to be married to begin with, and considered whether or not he'd grand permission. If he didn't know both parties, one could write a letter to introduce themselves. Neat right? Some links I'm using for this information: https://donnahatch.com/marriage-in-regency-england-special-license/ https://jasna.org/publications-2/persuasions-online/vol36no1/bailey/ https://merrynallingham.com/regency-period/regency-courtship-and-marriage/ https://www.regencyhistory.net/2018/10/banns-licences-and-hardwickes-marriage.html https://byuprideandprejudice.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/courtship-and-marriage-in-the-regency-period/