Any body know anything about marriage laws etc in 1700s?
I have had a look on the family search website for a man called John Thistlethwaite who married Ann Sharp in Newchurch in Pendle on 18th November 1783.
He is we assume, my 'lost ' ancestor George's brother.
The next entry I found says Cheshire Marriage Bonds and Allegations 1606-1900, and describes the couple as John age 28, batchelor and spouse, Ann Sharp age 50!!!!!!! Widow. Yes I wondered about that?
Back to the plot, why would his application, for want of a better description, to marry, be on line, but George Thistlethwaite who also married in Newchurch in 1768 have no ref. in the Cheshire Marriage Bonds?
George was a resident but John seems to have appeared from nowhere although now knowing Ann's age she must be the old girl buried there in 1822, but no husband?