25. Commonwealth Marriages

No marriages are recorded in the parish register of Kildwick for the Commonwealth period from October 1642 - August 1648.

Volume III of the registers covers the period 1653 - 1678. The first three pages contain the Commonwealth Marriages Act of 9th September 1653. This stated that in each parish some man must be appointed to register all marriages. Also at least 21 days written notice of an intended marriage must be given to this man. This notice must give all particulars concerning the parties, "All of which the said Register shall publish or cause to be published three severall Lords days then next following.… in the publike meeting place, commonly called the Church of Chappell, or… in the Market place next to the said Church or Chappell on three Market days, in three severall weeks next following, between the hours of eleven and two". When this publication has taken place the register must give a certificate. Before the marriage could take place this must be produced and examined by a Justice of the Peace.

The marriages for this period are headed thus - "The names of such persons as have been married according to the Act of Parliament bearing the date 28th of September 1653". The following words have been interlineated later "that most unjust thing called an act, by that pitiful convencion then unlawfully assembled".

It is rather interesting to compare the records of the last marriage before the act with that of the first marriage after the act. The former is 1653 "August 25th Richard Harrison and Susanna Shaclde". The next entry is:-

"Januarie

William Heaton and Elizabeth Brigg Daughter of Richard Brigg both of Sutton of this parish were in the Ch. Published to be married the eight day of Januarie 1653. 1 tyme.

The said William Heaton and Eliz Brigg were the fiftenth Januarie published the second time.

The said Wm. Heaton and Eliz Brigg were the 22nd Januarie published the thirde time.

Wm Heaton of Sutton and Eliz. Brigg of the said Sutton of the parish of Kildwick were this 23rd of Januarie 1653 in the presence of John Towne minister John Craven and others married before me.

Ro: Coates."

Roger Coates was the register. He was a keen supporter of the Parliamentary party.

The fact that this marriage in January 1653 follows that of August 1653 is, of course, accounted for by the use of the two years, civil or ecclesiastical, and historical, until 1752. The former began on March 25th - the later on Jan 1st.

On April 1st 1654 - "The lutention of Marriage between Roger Horrockes and Ann Holmes both of this pish. Ok Kildewecke was published at Skipton Crosse… the first tyme". The publication was made the 2nd and 3rd times in successive weeks. On April 16th they were married in Church in the presence of Roger Coates.

These full entries continue until 1657, but on January 29th, - "Peter Parret and Elizabeth Smythe his wife lawfully married". After this the entries are all short.