AYRSHIRE-L Archives

From: "Sheena Carmichael" <>
Subject: [AYR] Irregular marriages
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 17:04:44 -0000

I have found my first irregular marriage! In this particular case, the
husband's first wife died in childbirth in 1860. His wife's sister
came to live with him and his children, acting as housekeeper
(1871 census). In 1875, the sister had a child (shown on the 1881
census) but I have been unable to find a record of his birth. In
1879, the irregular marriage took place, the man marrying his wife's
sister, in a different town to where they lived and witnessed by the
son of the first marriage. One month later, a second child was
born (and this birth was registered). Interestingly enough, when the
man died, the death certificate (informant was same son who
witnessed the irregular marriage) says "widower of ..." his first wife
(although her sister was still alive). The man was a town
councillor, incidentally!

Now to my questions.

1. Was an irregular marriage simply what we know as a civil
marriage? i.e. legal, but not happening in a church.

2. Were marriages in churches other than the Church of Scotland
legal, or was some sort of civil ceremony required (as is the case
in England)?

3. Was there some religious bar against a man marrying his wife's
sister?

4. If a birth was not registered, would you be able to tell this from,
for example, the death certificate, or do you just have to assume it
wasn't registered if you can't find it? What was/is the penalty for
not registering a birth? (and what was the point, since the child
was living with his parents and given his father's surname on the
census?).

Looking forward to answers from this knowledgable list.

All the best
Sheena Carmichael

PS - I do find records like these bring the people to life!
Please note my new e-mail address!
All the best
Sheena

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• [AYR] Irregular marriages by "Sheena Carmichael" <>