Two male witnesses at Wedding

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darrenoconaill
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by darrenoconaill » Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:19 pm

Hi Folks,

just wondering how unusual (if at all) was it for a couple to have two male witnesses at their wedding . I always assumed that there had to be a male and a female as witnesses but I've come across a couple of instances now where both were male. Is this unusual? And if so under what circumstances?

Thanks

darren

Jim McNamara
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:49 pm
Location: Stanton, CA, USA
Contact:

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by Jim McNamara » Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:03 am

Hi Darren,

I just finished transcribing Scariff Marriages (316) and yes, common to have two male or two female witnesses. In one case I found one male and two female witnesses recorded. I will put all of the unusual ones here:

Marriages of:
- Michl White to Anne Minogue (23 APR 1855) w/witnesses John White & Miles ODonnell
- Michl Walsh to Mary Sheridan (24 JAN 1858) w/witnesses Bat Sheridan & John Coffee
- Edward OFarrell to Margaret Fitzpatrick (27 OCT 1862) w/witnesses Patt Carey, Miss Wallnutt & Miss Mary Ml Skehan

Some weddings recorded with no witnesses recorded at all, and probably 5 or 6 of those of this 316.

I don't know why but perhaps just to fill in when one person didn't make it.

All the best,
Jim McNamara
Surnames of Interest: McNamara-McGrath, Cleary-Conway

"Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart." -Rumi

Kevin J. O'Brien
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:19 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by Kevin J. O'Brien » Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:13 am

Daren,

I have look at many Irish marriage records civil and church and have found two males listed as witnesses. I have noticed in a few cases that the witnesses names were the same names as the father's of the Bride and Groom.

I don't know if this is just a coincidence. With such large families brothers of the married couples would have the same first names.

Slan,
Kevin J. O'Brien

darrenoconaill
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by darrenoconaill » Thu Sep 06, 2012 5:07 pm

That's great. Thanks guys.

Darren

kate2013
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:26 pm

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by kate2013 » Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:55 pm

Hi! Newbie here.

Was it generally family that appeared as witnesses at weddings and as sponsors at baptisms?

Jim McNamara
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:49 pm
Location: Stanton, CA, USA
Contact:

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by Jim McNamara » Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:00 pm

Hello newbie, yes it was very common to have family members witnessing the weddings from the records I have seen.
Jim McNamara
Surnames of Interest: McNamara-McGrath, Cleary-Conway

"Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart." -Rumi

kate2013
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:26 pm

Re: Two male witnesses at Wedding

Post by kate2013 » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:15 pm

Thank you Jim :)

Just another piece of the puzzle.

I have two male witnesses at my GGF's wedding btw :)

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