OPR disappointment

[StewL]

I knew that when I got an OPR I would probably only get the names of the parties involved and their parishes. I was a bit surprised the other day when I got the Banns for my Phillips/Walker match and the page was filled with poor relief funds distributed to those in need in the parish. I havent read through them yet to see if any of my lot were on the list there are quite a few of them on the page.

[AndrewP]

I knew that when I got an OPR I would probably only get the names of the parties involved and their parishes. I was a bit surprised the other day when I got the Banns for my Phillips/Walker match and the page was filled with poor relief funds distributed to those in need in the parish. I havent read through them yet to see if any of my lot were on the list there are quite a few of them on the page.

Hi Stew,

You are finding that not all of the OPRs are a brief sentence (or in a few lucky cases a paragraph of good information) acknowledging a calling of the banns or a baptism. Some of them are more like a set of accounts showing the payments received from those having their banns called, those hiring the mortcloth, or general collections for the poors fund; and then the payments out from that fund to the poor.

There seem to have been many interpretations of what the Parochial Registers were to hold and in what format it was to be presented.

All the best,

AndrewP

[emanday]

Hi Katie,

Like yourself, many of my OPR's give little more than the basic information. I would say, though, that the fact that most have mentioned the other Parish where one of the parties came from outside the Parish, has helped me find previously "unfindable" births because I'd not allowed for the fact that they might have come from elsewhere!

However, I got two real beauties, both for the same marriage, but each providing loads of different information, even down to the addresses of the couple.

I've also had an OPR which was a page of mixed events, births and marriages.

With OPR's, it's the luck of the draw really. Also, being able to see the actual image really makes the people "come alive" for me.

[thomsos]

Hi,
Can someone tell me what the cost on the OPR are for? and why do they vary for each couple. did they just pay what they could afford?
on one of mine, Polmont 1807 my couple paid 15/- where as most of the rest paid 4/8 and on another for Polmont 1776 everyone paid £2
and this page has both Collections and Proclamations

Sandra

[MaryB]

IanS - the OPRs are being transcribed at present but it will take a while. I started in June, with the year 1820 and only up to the year 1839 , for bapts, and that is for Contin. Currently there are only 5 people transcribing for the Ross & Cromarty area. I have bapts, marriages and some deaths.


This is being put on FreeReg, and will be free, but as ever it is still best to get original copies - I'm getting scalley eyed with the writing

[AndrewP]

Can someone tell me what the cost on the OPR are for? and why do they vary for each couple. did they just pay what they could afford?
on one of mine, Polmont 1807 my couple paid 15/- where as most of the rest paid 4/8 and on another for Polmont 1776 everyone paid £2
and this page has both Collections and Proclamations

Hi Sandra,

I have seen the like of varying payments that you have described. My guess is that some of these fees were based on ability to pay.

All the berst,

AndrewP

[DavidWW]

As far as I'm aware there was no guidance provided by the General Assembly on the fees chargeable for proclamation of banns, so that it was down to the individual kirk session as to what sum they charged, if any; what exceptions they were prepared to make; and whether they required the deposition of a sum of money as a bond to be forfeit if the marriage didn't do ahead (held by 1 or more "cautioners").

David