Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi all.

Just wondered if any of you eagle-eyed sleuths could track down an elusive marriage licence for me.

I have the parish record for Thomas Antrobus marrying Mary Briscoe by licence on 17th Nov 1801 at St Nicholas's but I have been unable to find the licence.
I would particularly like to have a look at it as the most probable birth for a Mary Briscoe (Briscow) I can find was in 1788 which would make her 13 when she got married.
There are some things in favour of this birth being the right one: the father was a butcher as was Thomas, she was born in Dale Street where several of Thomas's children were subsequently born and Mary seems to have had her last child in 1830 so her young age on marriage would make this feasible (just about).
Just wondered if the marriage licnce would give me more conclusive evidence.

Many thanks.

Glen

There are a number of Licences on Findmypast for which you will need to purchase a few credits to download the image. To be honest the Licences don't give a lot of information I've found in the past, as they are fairly standard.

There is an Obligation of Marriage online. If it is the right one Thomas is described as a butcher, as is his witness Richard Earle.

Many thanks for the hints, Mary and Dickiesam.

I've taken a look at the licence and Dickiesam has identified the right one. I was hoping it might have mentioned the name 'George Briscow' as this would have suggested the Mary Briscow born 1788 was the one who married in 1801, albeit 13 years old (parish birth record shows George was her father). Unfortunately, the licence did not give me that evidence.

I'm tempted to think I've got the right Mary (see what I've put in my first entry) but the 1841 census and her death certificate suggest she was born in 1776. If anyone can spot the birth of a Mary Briscow about this time (1841 census says she was born locally), I'd be interested to know.

Regards,
Glen

A possible, from http://www.lan-opc.org.uk
Baptism: 9 May 1779 Collegiate, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Mary Briscoe - daughter of Robert Briscoe
Register: Baptisms 1778 - 1789, Page 19, Entry 988

The licence usually gives the ages. If she was under 21 she would be described as a minor on the licence and at marriage.

Well, neither the licence nor the marriage record indicates Mary was under 21 let alone 13 so perhaps Dickiesam's suggestion becomes more likely.

Couple of points: the marriage licence is dated 19th November but the wedding took place on the 17! Any ideas?

Richard Earle (butcher) was a witness for the licence and James Earle was a witness at the wedding. Turns out James was a butcher too and he married an Alice Crooke at St Ann's on 14 Feb 1801 when a John Briscoe was a witness.
I'm trying to establish a link between John and Mary Briscoe but I'm not joining the dots yet. I've found a possible christening for a John Briscoe at St Nicholas's in 1777 with his father also being called John so I'm not making any connections yet - just finding a lot of Briscoes!

Glen