Beeston Marriage Licences (1754-1770)

Historically, by far the majority of marriages took place after the calling of Banns in church, but a minority followed the obtaining of a Licence from the Diocesan consistory court. This was a relatively expensive option so it tended to be used by the more wealthy families, for reasons of relative privacy or as a statement of financial status. The option was also used where there was some urgency for the marriage ceremony to take place.

Whilst it is unusual for the actual Licence to survive, the other documentation completed during the application was retained by the issuing church authority and usually survives in the corresponding modern-day repository. These documents usually include a sworn 'Allegation' - stating that there was no lawful impediment to the marriage - and a 'Bond' - made by two persons, agreeing to pay a very substantial sum if the marriage was proved to be invalid. These documents often provide additional details, not included typically in the marriage registers prior to 1837 - including ages, abode, occupations and relationship to bondsmen - which can provide vital confirmation as to identity. However, it should be noted that one of the bondsmen tended to be the groom himself.

These Beeston licences are from those issued by the Archdeaconary Court of Nottingham which, for the period shown, were transcribed and appeared in the Thoroton Society, Record Series, Volume X. This is now available at www.archive.org/stream/recordseries10thoruoft/recordseries10thoruoft_djvu.txt. The original documents, from the years 1594 to 1884, are now held as part of the Manuscripts and Special Collections at Nottingham University.

Day	Month	Year	Prospective Bridegroom	Prospective Bride	At	Other Details	Notes
26	Jul	1754	William Barker, parish of St Nicholas, Nottingham, cordwainer, 23, bachelor	Elizabeth Cox, parish of Beeston, 22, spinster	St Nicholas, Nottingham	Robert Cox, parish of St Mary, Nottingham, hosier, was bond	.
13	Sep	1754	John Slack, parish of Trowell, f.w.k., 27, bachelor	Ann Hopewell, parish of Beeston, 23, spinster	Beeston		.
18	Apr	1757	Joshua Robinson, parish of St Peter, Nottingham, f.w.k., 30, bachelor	Sarah Levis, parish of Beeston, 22, spinster	St Mary, Nottingham		.
25	May	1757	George Fowler, of Nottingham, saddler, 25, bachelor	Sarah Cox, parish of Beeston, 21, spinster	St Mary, Nottingham		.
12	Nov	1757	Henry Cox, parish of Beeston, farmer, 50, widower	Mary Henson, of same, 35, widow	Beeston		.
18	Apr	1758	William Wilkinson, parish of Beeston, farmer, 40, widower	Elizabeth Martin, parish of Lenton, 30, widow	Lenton		.
4	Oct	1758	John Stevenson, parish of Barton, farmer, 38, bachelor	Jane Strey, parish of Beeston, 24, spinster	Barton or Beeston		.
30	Oct	1762	Joseph Cross, parish of West Leake, farmer, 25, bachelor	Elizabeth Burrow, parish of East Leake, 24, spinster	Beeston	Edward Cross, of Beeston, farmer, is bond	.
1	Aug	1763	Francis Ward, parish of Beeston, f.w.k., 22, bachelor	Christian Parkinson, of same, 20, spinster	Beeston	William Parkinson, joiner, of Beeston is bond; and, as father of Christian, consents to her intended marriage	.
27	Feb	1765	Timothy Wylde, parish of St Mary’s Nottingham, clerk, 50, bachelor	Ann Hill, of same, 25, spinster	St Mary, Nottingham	John Abbey, parish of St Peter, Nottingham, dealer in tea, is bond). This marriage is recorded in St Mary’s register as taking place on 7th March. Timothy Wyld was vicar of Beeston and master of the Free Grammar School of Nottingham, and his burial is recorded in St Peter’s register on 30 Jan 1799	.
10	Jan	1768	William Bamford, parish of Beeston, f.w.k., 22, bachelor	Martha Barnes, of same, 28, widow	Beeston		.
24	Nov	1768	William Bamford, parish of Beeston, f.w.k., 23, widow	Margaret Harrison, of same, 21, spinster	Beston (Beeston)		.
11	Feb	1769	Samuel Morley, parish of Calverton, f.w.k., 30, bachelor	Mary Barker, parish of Beeston, 22, spinster	Beeston	John Barker, of Beeston, blacksmith, is bond	.
28	Oct	1769	James Borebank, parish of Beeston, butcher, 25, bachelor	Mary Cook of Dale Abbey, co Derby, spinster			.

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