I have been informed that the following indexes to the North Wales BMD website - it's
at:
www.northwalesbmd.org.uk
Newtown Registration District:
Civil Marriages:
1838 - 1918
(6,082 marriages)
A reminder that the term "civil marriages" covers marriages in register offices;
and also, until 1898, marriages in *all* nonconformist chapels and Roman Catholic
churches.
The Registrar was required to be present at all these ceremonies, and he/she recorded them
all in the same register - hence they are all described as "civil" marriages.
After 1898, it was possible for nonconformist chapels and Roman Catholic churches to
appoint an "Authorised Person", who attended the marriage service and entered
the details into the register. However, take-up of this option seems to have been rather
slow; and most chapel
and RC marriages continued to require the registrar to be present for many years. In
fact, many have never taken up the "Authorised Person" option.
Many thanks to my team of volunteers, who have photocopied, transcribed, and checked
these index books; and to the staff of Newtown Register Office, for
their support of the project.
Bryn Ellis, project leader for Montgomeryshire