Observations of a Transcriber.

[AlanC]

I have, in a couple of Marriage Certificates, Witnesses names that have no Family relevance whatsoever and I often wondered who they were. I am convinced now that they were church members/helpers who "stood in" for relations who couldnt or wouldnt be present for the Ceremony. Having been transcribing for a while now I often see the same witnesses names covering a number of years. This might be useful for some researchers.
When I first began with addresses of Bride & Groom, I'd say Ah! He's married the girl next door or from down the Road until I realised that the frequency of these events were too many to be true although some were and I chuckle when I now see the Bride living at number 47 and the groom at 45.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Yes, I think it is as well to remember the "professional witness" - yet another reason to look at the original records for an event, helps to give you a feel of what went on at that particular venue and how accurately most things were recorded.

OC

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

I have to say that pre 1837 stuff in Norfolk villages i have researched would make you think certain villagers did nothing else but witness marriages. It's almost like they had free board and lodge in return for their mark.

[Jen~Ealogy]

Yes I've come accross a few like that. Mostly they have been alongside a witness who was a family member, and I used to think they must have been an obliging family friend lol! Until I observed them cropping up elsewhere too, on a regular basis some of them.

[Jen~Ealogy]

LOL Glen....exactly, they obviously got some renumeration though..........unless they just loved weddings!

[Christine in Herts]

I reckon that, in some cases, they were actually church officers of some kind: warden, sexton, verger, or something of that kind.

Christine

[Jen~Ealogy]

More than likely Christine but would they also crop up in different areas/villages?

[Little Nell]

They were probably asked because a) they would be at the church anyway in an official capacity and/or b) would have been literate - as well as being a "respectable" witness. There's a whole raft of marriages in Farnham Royal, Bucks, with a "serial signer" called Wildsmith Badger. Who wouldn't want that on their cert?!

I also think a vast number of witnesses, relatives or not, were best men & bridesmaids. I was witness to my cousin's wedding when I was a bridesmaid. My gt grandfather's wedding witnesses were his youngest sister, his wife's youngest sister (I'm assuming they were bridesmaids) and a chap who conveniently was on the 1881 census staying with the family and was clearly a lifelong friend of gt grandfather. Guess he was the best man.

[jenoco]

My 4x great grandfather seems to have been one of these "professional" witnesses. His signature appears quite frequently as a witness in the Streatley registers and I can't find that the people being married have any sort of family connection.