Catalogue description MARRIAGE WARRANTS AND AFFIDAVITS

This series contains marriage warrants and affidavits 1905 - 1910 and 1949 - 1974. Each document is on a printed form. The marriage allegation takes the following standard format

'30 December 1905

Appeared personally William Martin of the parish of Saint Matthew, Upper Tulse Hill in the County of Surrey a widower of the age of twenty one years and upwards and prayed a licence for the Solemnisation of Matrimony in the parish church of Saint Matthew, Upper Tulse Hill aforesaid between him and Jessie Carterfield of the parish of Hampstead, Middlesex, a spinster of the age of twenty one years and upwards, and made oath, that he believeth there is no impediment of kindred or alliance, or of any other lawful cause, nor any suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court, to bar or hinder the proceedings of the said Matrimony, according to the tenor of such a licence. And he further make oath, that he the said William Martin hath had his usual place of abode with the said parish of Saint Matthew, Upper Tulse Hill for the space of fifteen days last past.

William Martin (original signature)

Sworn before me: C S Nicholl, Surrogate.

(Licence dated: 1 January 1906)'

The affidavits are also on printed forms and include the oath, and also nationality, age, status and whether baptised. Where the couple intending to marry were minors the records include consent forms signed by their parents or guardians.

See also Marriage Licences 1940 - 1958 (DS/MB) and Calendar of Marriage Licences 1877 - 1910 (DS/MP). Also Office Papers after 1968 (DS/OP). For earlier Marriage Warrants 1886 - 1905 see Diocese of Rochester (DR/MP).

Access by permission of the diocesan registrar for files less than thirty years old. This series is currently uncatalogued as of July 2003. Please contact the London Metropolitan Archives for further information.

AC/63/50, AC/66/21, AC/75/109.

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.

Canon Law also required that licences could only be issued 'upon good caution and security taken'. Therefore anyone applying for a licence was required to make a sworn statement called a marriage warrant or affidavit (formerly known as an allegation). The document records the declaration made by one of the parties that there was no known impediment to the marriage and that it met the requirements of the laws of the Church of England. Where either party was a minor, written consent of the parents or guardians was required. The warrants and affidavits normally give the names, parish, approximate age, and marital status of both bride and groom and the occupation of the groom.

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.