How to find an English marriage Certificate ?

[Branche]

Hello everyone,

I registered here because I need help for my mother (I am myself no genealogist, but she doesn't speak English) and hoped someone could help me out. She's found information that people she's looking for got married in London and would like to get a picture of the marriage certificate. She has the names of the couple, the date of the marriage, and the city. However, since we are not from UK, she doesn't know how genealogy work here and doesn't know where to look.

Could someone point me out how I could get her a copy of the certificate? Are they available on the Internet or should we write to a particular institution?

Many thanks for your help in advance,

Branche

 

[emeltee]

First of all when did the marriage take place? |If it was before 1837 you will not be able to get a marriage certificate as they did not start until September 1837.

If you know the date and the names of the couple then try the site FreeBMD.

www.freebmd.org.uk

It would help to know what county they married in - Parts of Londen come under Middlesex, Essex, Kent and Surrey.

Once you have found the reference fot the marriage you can order a copy of the certificate from thr General Register Office

www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

You could post the deatils of the couple and the marriage date on the forum and I'm sure someone will find the reference for you, if you are having any problems.

Emeltee

 

[Branche]

Hello Emeltee,

Many thanks for your answer! Here is the data I have :

BOIGELOT x BOULOUFFE - London - 16/09/1894

And apparently, it took place in the Belgian consulate.

I will now try and have a look at the website you gave me and will keep you posted with the result : ).

Many thanks again for your help!

Branche

 

[emeltee]

In case you haven't found it here is the reference

Camille Gilain Boigelot/Henriette Bouloffe Sep 1894 St Giles volume 1b page 1148

Sep 1894 means that the marriage took place July, August or September 1894.

Emeltee

 

[Ladybird1300]

I don't mean to be rude, but it isn't strictly true marriage certificates did not exist before 1837.
It is true they were not registered before this, but Parish certificates were given at the time of marriage, because I am in possession of one from 1802 at St James Westminster.

Amanda

 

[emeltee]

I stand corrected Amanda. I have never come across a Parish Certificate before. Perhaps my choice of words was misleading. I was trying to say that registration did not begin until 1837 and prior to that you have to rely on Parish Registers for the information. I should imagine that a Parish Certificate is quite a rare thing.

Emeltee

 

[Branche]

Hello Emeltee and Amanda,

Many thanks for your help! So if I understood correctly, I have to use the reference (volume 1b page 1148 ) to order the certificate from the GRO?

Is that expensive? Isn't there a way to get a simple, free scan? I know that some ressources are available for free on the Internet in Belgium, and I wondered if it was the same in the UK.

Many thanks again for your help (and sorry for the late reply, I have been quite busy these last few days),

Branche

 

[p.risboy]

Hello Emeltee and Amanda,

Many thanks for your help! So if I understood correctly, I have to use the reference (volume 1b page 1148 ) to order the certificate from the GRO?

Is that expensive? Isn't there a way to get a simple, free scan? I know that some ressources are available for free on the Internet in Belgium, and I wondered if it was the same in the UK.

Many thanks again for your help (and sorry for the late reply, I have been quite busy these last few days),

Branche

The cert will cost just over £10 sterling. No scans available, just a copy of the original details, inserted into the cert.

It's quite straight forward to order the cert, you will see on the application form the details required in the GRO web site.

If the marriage had occurred in a Church in London, there may have been something to be seen. If it occurred elsewhere.......a registry office for example, you would still have to order the cert.

Steve.

 

[Branche]

Alright Steve, many thanks for your answer! I'll transmit the details to my mother.

And many thanks again to all of you for your help !