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Ability to record additional names on a record

WilmethAnnCarol2
WilmethAnnCarol2 ✭✭
July 15, 2021 edited July 25, 2021 in Suggest an Idea

UK, England, Lancashire—Marriage Bonds, 1746–1799

I've been researching thousands of these marriage bonds, and back in the 1700s, the clerk didn't write down who the other people (beyond the bride and groom) on the document were. The groom would bring a man with him to vouch for him, and it might be his father, or a friend. Also, there may be a man's signature at the bottom of the document with the bride's surname, but no relationship listed. The other names on the document must be important to the family, since it was a wedding, but there is no way to record them.

The only time the father was specifically listed on the document was when he had to give consent for a minor child to be married.

Usually, however, I'll see a man's signature at the bottom of the document who has the same last name as the bride, but there is no relationship listed, and I can't assume who he is. But I surely would like to be able to list his name because that would be helpful to someone searching for him or his family members in FamilySearch, especially since the records then were so skimpy.

It would be nice if we could have a category called: "Other People Listed on Document" in which we can record those other people who are written there -- as well as their relationship, if one is listed. I've seen marriage documents where the clerk writes that so-and-so, the brother of the bride, brings consent from the parent........ There is nowhere for me to list that brother's name. Or to record the potential father who signs at the bottom.

Having this additional area to record other names would aid in the ability of patrons to search for those ancestors or relatives who are not synced to their family members on these documents as clearly as was done in later centuries.

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New · Last Updated July 15, 2021

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