In the 18th and 19th centuries, getting married by licence meant that a couple obtained a special permission from the church authorities to marry without having to announce their intention to marry through the traditional method of reading the Banns. Here are some key points about marriage by licence during that time:
Quicker Process: Marriage by licence was a faster way to get married compared to the traditional method of reading the Banns, which required the announcement to be made on three consecutive Sundays in the parish.
Circumstantial Necessity: Couples might choose to marry by licence if there was a need for urgency, such as a pregnancy, or if one of the parties was about to leave for military service.
Social Status: Marrying by licence was sometimes seen as a status symbol, as it indicated that the couple could afford the additional cost and did not want the publicity that came with the reading of the Banns.
Legal Requirements: If either party was under 21 years old, or if the couple was marrying away from their home parish, they would need to apply for a marriage licence.
Documentation: The process involved submitting an Allegation (a sworn statement that there was no legal impediment to the marriage), a Bond (a financial guarantee), and the licence itself.