PAPERS RELATING TO THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE LICENCES

FM

PAPERS RELATING TO THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE LICENCES

[1632-1900]

The papers relating to the granting of marriage licences have been filed in the following categories:

FM I Allegations

FM II Bonds

FM III Calendars

English

Whenever a marriage is to be solemnized without the publication of banns a licence has to be granted by the diocesan, by one of his officers, or by the Faculty Office or the Vicar General's Office. The relative competence of the Master of the Faculties and the Vicar General was not defined until 1755 when it was agreed that the Vicar General might grant common licences to parties both of whom were living in dioceases in the province of Canterbury but not to parties resident in the province of York. The Faculty Office, being a lay office, established by act of Parliament, was competent throughout England. The Vicar General's practice of granting special licences was also questioned and it was decided that the 1753 Marriage Act, by quoting the the act 25 Henry VIII, c.16, (1533), implied that special licences, being dispensations from statutory law, should henceforth be granted by the Faculty Office alone. Common licences for the province of Canterbury can be issued by either office. These apply mainly to the home counties.

Until 1575 the marriage licences were registered with the other faculties in the muniment books A and B. These have been extracted, with selections from the allegations for 1632-1869, and published by J.L. Chester and G.J. Armytage, Allegations for Marriage Licences issued from the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury at London, 1543-1869, Harlsian Society, vol.XXIV (London, 1886). After 1575 the marriage licences were dealt with separately and have their own calendars which, from 1632-1714, have been printed by G.E. Cokayne and E.A. Fry, Faculty Office Marriage Licences, British Record Society, Index Library vol.XXXXXX (London, 1905).