is 7 witnesses a bit excessive?

[vikki brace]

I just found this entry on FamilyHistoryOnline and it lists 7 Witnesses!!!

Would there be a particular reason for that many of just because they could?

Thomas Titchmarsh Elliott Married Mary Grounds (1842)
Witnesses
Thomas Grounds
Sarah Grounds
Ann Aveling
Eliza Ann Elliott
Elizabeth Copeland
Emma Elliott
Emma Grounds

[Vicky the Viking]

I suppose its cos they could

I suspect they were quite well-to-do and were making a point?


I came across one yesterday - Durham Bishops Transcripts on the new LDS site - that had 5, all with the same surname as the bride. I presume they were her parents & siblings. Not related to me or else I would have investigated further.

[Jennifer Eccles]

Thats interesting isnt it. you could say it was the best man and bridesmaids acting as witnesses also..
Did they do best men/ bridesmaids back then? i have no idea.

[Michael]

I think the Queen and Prince Philip had about 30 witnesses when they were married, but I've never seen more than two for serfs.

[Jennifer Eccles]

er... I had 4 Michael...lol

[Michael]

You're evidently not a serf then

[Jennifer Eccles]

I am.. but dad was the vicar lol

[vikki brace]

Thank you.

I think they had a bit of money as Thomas was a Solicitor.

[Little Nell]

Quakers have everyone who attends the wedding as witnesses. The wedding takes place as part of a normal Quaker meeting for worship.

[Little Nell]

Bridesmaids have been around as long as brides have. I guess grooms have always had a best man or similar too.

[Olde Crone Holden]

My serfs had a double wedding in 1789, first lot had eleven witnesses, the second had 13!

OC

[Little Nell]

Now why didn't they have a round dozen each?

[Olde Crone Holden]

Nell

Groom's mother signed twice on the second one. Can't remember who got missed out the second time!

How very thoughtful of them to put their relationship too - bride's sister, groom's uncle etc. A little gem.

OC

[Little Nell]

I guess groom's mother wanted to show how suitable the match was!

[KiteRunner]

Curses, that beats my g-g-g-grandparents with only 6 witnesses!

[Olde Crone Holden]

I have to say I wasn't expecting it at all and I broke out into a hot flush when I saw it!

One of those moments which makes the hours of squinting at illegible film worth while.

OC

[Roger in Sussex]

Bridesmaids have been around as long as brides have. I guess grooms have always had a best man or similar too.

I always understood the origin of the best man was to assist the groom in carrying off the bride if her family cut up rough! Is that just a myth ?

Roger

[Cool Blue]

I have a marriage from 1796 ---small landowners or statesmen as they called them in Cumberland--with eight witnesses, which is topped of course by OC's score, but still not a bad count. My lot were not so obliging as to include their relationships, but HA! I sorted them all out myself from other information. And they thought they would fool me
I do wish there was a photo though, I'd love to see how they looked.

[Little Nell]

The most I've found is three witnesses and it wasn't in my family, but my husband's.