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APPENDIX XVII
Marriage register of the Presbyterian Congregation of Banbridge,

County Down, 1756-1794

In 1880 the writer was entrusted with the Register Book of this congregation  by the late Rev. K M’Cammon, minister in charge of the Downshire Road Presbyterian “unreadable” Church. The entries relating to marriages number over 300, and are referred to as “Purposes of Marriage,” with the exception of those following the words, “Marriage without Proclamation.”  It would appear that a “Purpose of Marriage” meant the actual solergnization? of the marriage ceremony, as there is no reason to believe that another book existed recording marriages in fact.  In a few instances, under the heading of “Purpose of Marriage” it is stated that the ceremony of the marriage took place some days later (see entries under date 10th March, 1758, and others at intervals).

The presumption is that the clerk or minister omitted to enter the “Purpose” or proclamation of banns, or that the proclamation took place on the same day as the marriage.  The marriages, up to 30th March, 1761, commence with the words, “A Purpose of Marriage between,” and after this date “Between” only is written; and then in later entries “Between is omitted.  It is certain, however, that the knot was tied effectually, no matter what doubts we may have as to the meaning of a “purpose”; and whether the contracting parties were married on the day of publication of banns? or some days after does not make much difference.

Some of the surnames appear in strange guise, as “mahallan” (Mulhollan); “McCubbin” (McKibbin); “Hillows” (Hillia?); “Ewer” (Ewart)’ “Dennisken” (Denniston); “McGumery” (Montgomery),  & cc.  There is nothing very peculiar in the names; only in one instance do we find a name other than those of Scotch, Irish, or English origin.  We refer to Jennaux, which surname is, doubtless of Huguenot origin.  Of double Christian names only one instance occurs. (Anon)

The Purpose of Marriage are as follows (1) 

1756

May 30th - Joseph Risk and Isabella Swan

June 8th - William Hamill and Seragh Beggs

August 8th - Thomas Anderson and Heloner Locket (Lockhart)

August 15th - John Meek and Seragh Maballen (Mulholland)

September 19th - Jas. Skelly and Mary Majore

(1) In almost every instance, where no place is named, the words “of
this congregation” are to be understood
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1756

September 19th - John Coulthart (Coulter) and Mary McMullan

November 21st - Robert Jordan [not legible] Moorelicad

November 19th - William Duff and Seragh Mehaffy

1757

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February 27th - James Carnweil ( of not legible) and Jane Mehaffy

March 6th - John HiIows (Hillis) and Agnes McWjlliam

March 8th - Robert Ewer (Ewart) and Susan Bowman

March 8th - Thos. Dunn and Ann Dunbar

June 12th - James Robeson and  Saragh (not legible)

July 3rd - Hugh Miligan and Jane Magill

July 10th - Joseph Nelson and Mary Thompson

July 18th - James Jordan and Mary Dennisken (Denniston)

October 19th - Archibald McCullogh and Mary McClung (McCIurg)

November 6th - Daniel Magill and Eliz. Anthony

1758

January 29th - James Magin and Mary Robison

January 29th - John McClung (McClurg) and Margaret Robinson

March 19th - William Dodds and Jane Kelly, Married 23rd March

April 16th - Richard Bell and Elizabeth Adams

April 23rd - Robert Herron  and Elizabeth Stuart, married 25tth April

May 14th - James Glass of Drumbanagher,and Jane Dumble

October 15th - John McMcMullan and Anne Jenneaux

      January 27th - John Maitland and Jane Porter, married, 29th January;  Also
James Campbell, of Rathyfryland, and Margaret Majore, married 31st
January; and also Archibald McMaster and Mary Wilson

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1762

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1764   

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1766

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1768

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1769

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1770

1770

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1771

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1773

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1777

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1778

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1783   

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1785

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1786

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1791

MARRIAGES WITHOUT PROCLAMATION
1784

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1786

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1789

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1791

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1793

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1794

Extract from comment by Rev. W. T. Latimer, B. A., on the above, (See
Journal of the Royal Society of Antiqueries, Ireland. Vol. XXIX., pp
75-76

A “purpose of marriage” was nothing more or less than a proclamation of
banns, and as almost all who were proclaimed were soon afterwards
married, I believe there was no separate book for registration of
marriages.  This opinion is supported by the fact that when marriages
without proclamation were entered, this fact was recorded and that in
some of the entries the date of marriage as well as the date of the
proclamation.

In 1701 the Synod of Ulster enacted that banns of marriage should be
published on three several sabbaths, and that any minister who married a
couple in transgression of this rule should be rebuked and suspended.
But this law was unpopular with the Presbyterian people.  The publicity
given thereby to intended marriages was in itself so obnoxious that many
Presbyterians submitted to be married in the Established Church where
license could be substituted for proclamation.

But as this publishing of the banns was the law of the Irish
Presbyterian Church, it was at first generally carried it by ministers;
and when this fact was recorded in the books of the congregation, it was
proof that the law had been observed.  This, I think was probably the
reason why in some congregations the “proclamation” and not the ceremony
of marriage was recorded.  A record of the marriage itself would not
have been considered sufficient evidence.

Note: From 1794 to 1814, no record is extant of marriages or baptisms.
From 1814, commencing with the pastorate of Rev. James Davis, a record
was in existence.

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