Gretna Green marriage records 1794-1895 now on Ancestry

[SarahND]

Hi all,
I just noticed that Ancestry has put up a database of Gretna Green marriages, with images of the pages. Some of the ones I have seen are neatly written in a register, others are scribbled on scraps of paper, but either one would be welcomed by those who have ancestors who married there. Here are the details:

About Gretna Green, Scotland, Marriage Registers, 1794-1895

This data collection contains what has become known as the Lang Collection of Gretna Green Marriage Registers, being named after David and Simon Lang, a father and son duo who were “priests” and performed many marriages in Gretna Green between 1794 and 1828.

The entire collection covers the years 1794 to 1895, with a few earlier references. Since Gretna Green marriages were not exactly formal, the record keeping was not regulated, nor was it centralized. The Lang Registers make up approximately 50% of all Gretna Green marriages performed during the specified time period. The Lang Registers is the largest single collection of Gretna Green marriage registers and includes over 10,000 records.

Sometimes marriages were recorded on scraps of pieces of paper. Other times they were kept more formally and recorded in a book. The amount of information recorded could vary as well. However, you’ll generally be able to find the following information:

Names of bride and groom
Their counties of residence
Marriage date
Witnesses’ names

Hope this helps someone,
Sarah

[Liz Turner]

Further to Sarah's post, this link might be helpful to those seeking more information on what made not only Gretna Green, but other Borders villages, so popular after 1754 ...

In 1754 Lord Hardwicke introduced an Act of Parliament which changed the way in which marriages could be legal. Firstly any marriages performed in a church would have to be recorded in the Parish records which both bride and groom had to sign (or make their mark); It was decreed that weddings carried out in places or at times deemed illegal in the canons of 1604 were not legal ceremonies and that only weddings performed in a church would be deemed legal. Lastly both bride and groom had to be at least 21 years of age in order to marry without parental consent.

This link to Hawick Heritage Centre’s Heritage Hub Collections will give a bit more information about “irregular” or “clandestine” marriages.

http://www.heartofhawick.co.uk/heritage ... riages.asp

Like Sarah, I hope this link is useful.

Liz

[LesleyB]

Hi Liz

and that only weddings performed in a church would be deemed legal.

I'm not sure where you found this bit, but my understanding was that the marriage did not need to be actaully IN the Church in Scotland - many/most marriages were not. The important bit was that the banns were read in the Established church before the marriage took place, I think. See
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/scotti ... /marriage/

A 'regular' church marriage, requiring marriage banns to be read in the church some weeks in advance, was the usual practice, and from 1834 'priests and ministers not of the established church' were also allowed to conduct legal marriage ceremonies. In Scotland, regular marriages did not have to take place within a church building; indeed, they were more likely to take place in private homes.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Liz Turner]

Hi Lesley

I think the Church bit applies to England - I probably wasn't clear on that. I know that in Scotland it is the person carrying out the marraige who is registered, not the place - hence the many marraiges I've found in my family carried out in hotels and homes over the years.

Liz

[LesleyB]

Just me being pedantic again... but it is noticeable that Scots law and English law can be markedly different when it comes to these kind of things. One of the reasons why, when finding myself having to research some English folk, I feel completely lost!!

[emanday]

One of the reasons why, when finding myself having to research some English folk, I feel completely lost!!

Because I'm also researching my English son-in-law's ancestry, I know exactly what you mean.

My biggest problem is not being able to view the certs online, as we can on SP, and ordering them would be just too expensive.

Frustrating