William Harding Birchall sits on a distant branch of my family tree. We aren’t blood relatives however when one of his descendants contacted me with a question my interest was piqued. The Birchalls were Quakers and these are the first Quaker records I have come across in my research.
This marriage record is very hard to read so I downloaded it and opened it in the graphics editor I use called GIMP.
Thanks to Tim Banks, a direct descendant, for the certificate. He owns the original which is a large document he has framed and hung above his computer.
Using the automatic white balance feature and adjusting the brightness and contrast made the image readable when enlarged.
This is the transcription:
William Harding Birchall of Leeds in the county of York, Stuff Merchant, son of Edwin Birchall of the same place and occupation, and Elizabeth his wife, and Lucy Hutchinson of Bishop Auckland in the county Palatine of Durham, daughter of the late John Hutchinson of Helmsley in the county of York aforesaid and Hannah his wife, having declared their intention of taking each other in marriage before the Monthly Meeting of Friends, commonly called Quakers, of Darlington in the county of Palatine of Durham aforesaid, the proceedings of the said William Harding Birchall and Lucy Hutchinson, after due inquiry and deliberate consideration thereof, were allowed by the said Meeting, they appearing clear of all others and having consent of surviving Parents.
Now these are to certify that for the accomplishing of their said marriage, this twentieth day of the tenth month in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one they, the said William Harding Birchall and Lucy Hutchinson appeared at a public assembly of the aforesaid people in their meeting house at Bishop Auckland; and he, the said William Harding Birchall taking the said Lucy Hutchinson by the hand, declared as followeth: “Friends, I take this my friend Lucy Hutchinson to be my wife, promising, through Divine assistance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband, until it shall please the Lord by death to separate us.” And the said Lucy Hutchinson did then and there in the said assembly, declare as followeth: “Friends, I take this my friend William Harding Birchall to be my husband, promising, through Divine assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife, until it shall please the Lord by death to separate us.”
And the said William Harding Birchall and Lucy Hutchinson, as a further confirmation thereof, and in testimony thereunto, did then and there to these present set their hands.
We being present at the above said marriage have also inscribed our names as witnesses thereunto the day and year above written.
It appears that everyone present at the wedding signed the certificate, at the bottom on the right hand side there is a separate column where relatives have signed.
I love their simple vows, short and sweet. Do you have Quakers in your family? Is this a typical marriage certificate and ceremony?
A list of relations separated from the greater list looks as though it could be useful to follow up.
I have been to a Quaker wedding. It definitely had the feel of being witnessed by the whole group.
Regards
Anne
I’ve got a few names from the relatives list however it is harder to read than the rest of the document but I’ll keep persevering. 🙂 Kylie
Today I have been researching family members in and around Todmorden in Lancashire (since 1888 Yorkshire) and many of them are Quakers. There were non-confomists in this area for centuries, including the Quakers. I was therefore interested in seeing this post.
Thanks for your comment Vicki, have you found any marriage records like this one?
Kylie
Kylie,
No I have not seen any actual records like this, so was pleased to see this one. I have seen registers online for Quaker marriages etc in the region I am investigating and today I have been reading part of a book I located online – A short history of Todmorden (Pub 1912) – which has chapters on the beginning of non-conformity in the area from the mid 1650s plus another chapter with information about churches and schools in the eighteenth century. Good background reading and also mentions some of my ancestors who were Quakers in the seventeenth century.
Vicki
Oooh that sounds really interesting!
I am a Quaker and yes, marriage certificates are still signed by all who are present.
Thanks Julie, that’s good to know.
I have included your blog in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2018/04/friday-fossicking-20th-april-2018.html
Thank you, Chris
Thanks for including my blog Chris 🙂
I am direct descendant of the Birchall’s and am researching the family history. I have records back to the 1700’s, the wedding certificates are very valuable source of information. Our family are known as “birthrite” Quakers, as we continue to be practicing Quakers. Any information on the Birchall’s will be greatly appreciated
Hi Katherine, that’s really interesting. My email address is kira0030 at gmail.com. I don’t have much information on the Birchall’s but I can put you in touch with Tim Banks who has the original document.
Love my Quaker ancestors! They left such comprehensive records. Mine settled in Ireland after moving over from Westmoreland in England in the mid-1600s
Wow Katrina, I don’t have anyone that far back in my family tree.