John Test - Elizabeth Sanders
The Marriage Allegation Record
1673

From the above allegation we can tell that John Test and Elizabeth Sanders applied for a marriage license in October of 1673.

In 17th Century England, marriage was accomplished either by banns or by license. If by banns, then the intention to marry was announced at three consecutive Sunday services in the parish church or churches where the couple lived. Those who wanted to avoid either the publicity or the three-week wait could be married by license.

Since the license cost only a small amount of money it was common for yeoman, clerks, merchants and farmers as well as the upper classes to be married by license. If the bride and groom lived in the same diocese, the bishop of the diocese issued the license. But if they lived in different dioceses then the archbishop's office or rather his vicar-general's office issued the license.

The couple was given the license but a record of it, i.e., the allegation, was kept by the issuing authority. The allegation or statement by bride and groom includes the occupation of the groom, where the marriage will take place, the names of the parents and whether the groom is a bachelor or a widower and the bride a spinster or widow.

A Marriage License Allegation was a document sworn by one of the prospective parties, usually the groom, attesting there is no impediment to the marriage and indicating where the marriage would take place.

The couple would visit the office, step up to a clerk's desk or window and answer some basic questions. The clerk would record the answers in a book and write out a license that he handed to the couple. These marriage license allegations follow a fairly standard format.

Unfortunately the original allegations prior to the years 1694 have been lost. In the 1890s abstracts of the allegation books were made. That is the only sort of record of John Test and Elizabeth Sanders marriage allegations that we have today. The original would have included John Test's signature giving us an example of his handwriting.

John Test, of Christ Church, Lond., Cordwayner, Bach^r, about 22 and Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders, of St. Martins in the Fields, Midd., Sp^r abt. 22, with consent of her father; at Kensington or Braintford, Midd."
(Harleian Soc. Pub., Vol. 34, p. 103.)
The Entire Volume 34 is available here.

The allegation tells us that John Test resides in the Parish of Christ Church and that Elizabeth Sanders resides in the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields, Middlesex -- i.e., the county where London is located. The allegation also tells us they intend to marry either at Kensington or Braintford.

Example of a Marriage License Allegation

Here is an example of a later allegation dated July 12, 1770. William Test and Susanna Best in the Parish of St Alphege, Middlesex County, the borough of Greenwich registered for a license.

Click on the Image for a Larger View

Transcript:

The clerk entered the information in the book as the couple answered his questions. In all probability the clerk did not presume social status and provide proper titles. I suspect that identification documents were rare and thus not required. He simply recorded the names as they were affirmed or alleged. Either John Test or Elizabeth Sanders provided the title ‘Mrs.’ when asked for the name of the bride. It cannot be taken as serious evidence of lofty social standing. I imagine they exchanged smiles.

References and Essential Background Readings:

Society of Genealogists

These things get moved around but as of April 2018 this link will take you to the volume containing the Marriage Allegations for marriage licenses issued by the vicar–general of the Archbishop of Canterbury:

Marriage Licence Allegations Index 1694-1850 Flip through to p. 103.