Lonan Marriages 1718-1800

It would appear that a complete marriage register from 1757 through to 1794 is missing. This is a composite listing - those from July 1757 to 1792 are from the Bishop's transcripts (personally transcribed from two microfilms in the Manx Museum and from two unfilmed bundles of transcripts (1768-1783) - the remainder are taken from the official transcript of the Parish Register which starts in 1718. I did this as the IGI is a mess - quite how it is possible to create such a muddle from a straightforward official transcription in clear modern script defeats me, but Salt Lake City managed it.

After I had started my transcription I was informed that there was an earlier one of the missing marriages done by Mrs Narasimham for the IoMFHSoc - I did not see a copy until sent a copy after I'd posted the bulk of the work on-line; she obviously used the microfilm as she had missed the two unfilmed pages in 1787 (even though on the microfilm the writing on the obverse could be seen), however I found that I had missed the 1786 marriages on the film though I had noted the baptismal records, thus I have used her transcription for that year. Though the microfim is very dark in places we agreed on all entries except three:- I read Norway where she had the probably correct Ramsey, she however had read Samuel Christry - I read Daniel and in fact can find a Daniel having 3 children in the period including one in Jurby which confirms wife's name, the third was she had 13th I had tenth (dates in BT were written out in full so I could have missed the 'thir' in the binding).

There are still some eight years missing :- 1772,1776/7,1783,1788,1790/1 & 1793. It is possible that these may still be found though as Lonan seemed to head each year's bundle in the bound versions it may have been the most easily lost or misplaced.

Most marriages were by licence - most had 'both of the parish' (abbrev both) - if one party was noted as of another parish this is given following their initials, it is assumed that the other party was of Kk Lonan; post 1794 the formula 'of this parish' was used - it may just apply to the woman as the formulaic entry was A B and C D [both/of this parish/..] were married... Witnesses were called for by the Marriage Act of 1757 - this required that a new register be created. There are few comments in the register. (eop = my own indication)

Feltham writes "For the last five years, ending in 1796, the number of marriages was 56" - between the parish register and the Bishop's transcripts there are 40 thus some 16 appear to be missing whereas I would have expected only 12 or so in 1793.