England, Devon and Cornwall Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains church marriage records from the Diocese of Exeter, covering the period 1660-1912. These records were filmed at the Devon Record Office. Availability of records may vary by year and locality.

A marriage bond and/or allegation are forms that were completed when applying for a marriage license. Allegations were statements saying that there were no legal reasons why the couple should not be married. Bonds were financial agreements requiring the signers to pay a sum of money if the allegation was incorrect.

Until 1876, the Diocese of Exeter covered the counties of Devon and Cornwall on the southwestern peninsula of Great Britain. After 1876, the Diocese of Exeter lost much of its territory to the newly created the Diocese of Truro. Exeter retained most of the county of Devon, and Truro was given the county of Cornwall plus the Devon parishes of Virginstow and St Giles on the Heath. For information on all the parishes historically covered by the Diocese of Exeter, see Cornwall Parishes and Devon Parishes.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following list indicates potential information given in these records. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all of the listed information. Marriage bonds and allegations may include:
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage location
 * Bride’s name
 * Groom’s name

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person you are looking for
 * The approximate date of marriage

View the Images
To view images in this collection:
 * 1) Look at the England, Devon and Cornwall Marriages, Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records) article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
 * 2) Go to the Browse Page
 * 3) Select the Film number to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log. Some of the records in this collection may be written in an old script that is challenging to read. Refer to BYU’s Script Tutorial for assistance with reading the records.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Save or print a copy of the image if possible
 * Use the estimated age given to calculate an approximate year of birth
 * Use the information to find the couple in future census records
 * Continue to search the index for people with the same surname to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives
 * Note that family members often appear on an individual's marriage records as witnesses

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that marriage bonds and allegations only signify an intention to marry. They do not guarantee that the marriage actually took place
 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Remember that it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name in a church record
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name, surname, or date range only to return a broader list of possible matches
 * Search the records of nearby parishes
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description, if possible
 * The individual in question may not have records in the Church of England at all, but rather might have belonged to a nonconformist denomination. See England Nonconformist Church Records for more information on nonconformist records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Devon and Cornwall.
 * Cornwall Guided Research
 * Devon Guided Research
 * England Record Finder
 * England Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?
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