Marriage Ban

[Katie]

Hello,
My curiosity got the best of me. I looked in the Marriage Ban option in one of the towns and it is almost impossible for me to read being English only educated. Just a question as to what was the most common ban for two people to not be able to get married.
Will you please advise. Too bad this hasn't been computerized as I'm sure there is some interesting information members could find about ancestors.
Thank you
Janice

[jani]

If you mean the marriage banns, those are records of marriage intention announcements. Not marriages getting banned. When a couple wanted to get married, they first had to annouce their intentions in the church three separate times, so that if anyone knew a reason why they shouldn't be married, there was time to stop the marriage from taking place. From the FamilySearch website:

They ensured that the persons to be married fulfilled all legal conditions for marriage, such as being of age, having parental consent, not being closely related, and widowers and widows having probated their former spouses’ estate

Sometimes when the marriage records are not availabe, the banns list the actual wedding date as well as the announcement dates. It can also be a way to identify the bride and grooms parents, since it might list the names of the people who gave their parental consent.

[Katie]

Thank you for that very interesting information. Another place to search for people if needed. Three times, huh? I'll have to pass this information on to some of my relatives as I'm sure they do not know what was involved when a couple wanted to marry.
Thanks for your help.
Janice

[jani]

The custom is still used today, although now the intention to marry is only read in church once. The legalities are researched elsewhere, so the banns are more of an announcement (and not mandatory).