Forbidding the Banns

[kiterunner]

I just came across this in The Belfast News-letter, Monday morning, May 3, 1858
(Reprinted from the Essex Herald
FORBIDDING THE BANNS - A singular incident lately occurred in a church not distant from the parish of St Botolph, Colchester. A venerable Franklin of the neighbourhood, who had passed some seventy summers, and "wooed and won" a buxom dame, some years his junior, and fearful lest the fair one should alter her mind, he resolved to adopt the speedy process of special licence. The wedding day was fixed, the altar reached, but lo! on the clergyman asking "if any of you know any just cause or impediment," &c, a young gentleman urged thereto by the bridegroom's friends, who approved not the match, rose and exclaimed, "I forbid the marriage!" "Upon what ground?" inquired the clergyman. "Because," responded the objector, "she has not heard from her first husband." The lady was interrogated, and confessed that certainly she had not heard from her former husband, who went abroad for seven years, nor yet for twenty years. This long absence, and the objector's minority were held to invalidate the objection. The question was repeated; as all were this time silent, the ceremony proceeded.

Interesting story! I wonder whether the marriage would still have been allowed to go ahead if the objector was over 21?

[Merry]

I wonder what condition the bride gave?

I suppose this is them:

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/87...nSearchResults


Marriages Jun 1858 (>99%)

Barker Sarah Colchester 4a 321 <<<<<<<<<<<
BROMLY Peter Colchester 4a 321
Cook Elizabeth Colchester 4a 321
Franklin John Colchester 4a 321 <<<<<<<<<<<

[Olde Crone]

If I rmember rightly, a woman (or man!) whose spouse had been sent across the sea for seven years or more, was free to remarry without fear of bigamy.

I have seen one certificate where the bride is being allowed to remarry by permission of the Archbishop, her present husband having been sent across the seas for seven years. Not everyone sought permission, I suppose.

OC

[Merry]

Yes, a bit awkward if you have just said you are a widow, only for others to mention your husband may still be living, even if seven years had elapsed.

I thought she should show up in 1851 as Sarah Barker, but I can't see her.

[Merry]

Ah, she's a bit younger in 1851

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/88...nSearchResults

She says she is single! I wonder if Barker was her first husband's name or her maiden name?

[kiterunner]

Oh, well done for finding them, Merry! I shall try to remember to look at the marriage record the next time I have a sub to SEAX / Essex Ancestors.

[Merry]

if you put forbid the banns into any of the newspaper searches there's enough reading material for week!