Sherrifs Warrant?.....

[Omnipeta]

Thanks to the assistance of one of our members, I've received a copy of my G/parents marriage certificate. It says they were married by a 'Sherrifs Warrant?' any ideas?
Any help greatly appreciated, fraternally John.

[AndrewP]

Hi John,

This is an irregular marriage which has been legalised by a declaration (with two witnesses named) and authorised by the Sheriff-Substitute. This "marriage by warrant" existed until 1939/40 when most forms of irregular marriage were replaced by the availability of a civil marriage at the registrar's office.

If you search this site (using the search button at the top of this forum), you will find more explanations of the marriage by warrant. Search for "irregular marriage" or "warrant" and you should find these.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[Omnipeta]

Hi John,

This is an irregular marriage which has been legalised by a declaration (with two witnesses named) and authorised by the Sheriff-Substitute. This "marriage by warrant" existed until 1939/40 when most forms of irregular marriage were replaced by the availability of a civil marriage at the registrar's office.

If you search this site (using the search button at the top of this forum), you will find more explanations of the marriage by warrant. Search for "irregular marriage" or "warrant" and you should find these.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

Thank you Andrew for the explanation, fraternally John.

[DavidWW]

A minor but fundamental point...... the marriage was legal in Scots law from the moment the declaration was made between the couple.

The Sheriff's Warrant process was the method by which the marriage was formalised in the sense of resulting in an entry in the Register of Marriages. In other words, that then allowed the couple to produce a piece of paper proving that they were married.

David