Catalogue description MARRIAGE LICENCES

This series contains lists of marriage licences recording in brief the licence number, name of the surrogate clerk, date of the licence, the surnames of the bride and groom, and who the licence was given to.

For example entries in DS/MB/001, are set out as follows:

Number Clerk Date Parties How licence was given

1977 Salmon 4 December 1940 Ireland and Rogers 'Handed to parties'

('Salmon' is Reverend Canon D M Salmon of The Rectory, Streatham, according to the list of surrogates).

Lists of the surrogate clergy involved in the process of granting the licences can be found in DS/MB/001 and 003.

The books are arranged in chronological order.

See also Calendar of Marriage Licences 1877 - 1910 (DS/MC) and Marriage Warrants and Affidavits (Licences) 1905 - 1974 (DS/MP).

ACC/1983

Under Canons 101 to 103 of 1604 marriage licences could only be issued by the ecclesiastical authorities who had jurisdiction over the parish where the marriage was to take place. Licences enabled couples to marry without publication or calling of banns in church.

Usually the licences were handed over to the marrying couple. Sometimes they may be found among the parish records where the marriage took place, but most marriage licences have not survived.