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From: "Clyde Downing" <>
Subject: Re: [UPPER-CANADA] My Reference to Recognized Marriages
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:04:50 -0800
References: <CKEOJFLJIEKGCJCLAKDIKEICDLAA.viking@rvi.net>


I have read that in the early times a man and woman would decide to get married,but often there were no ministers available so the formal wedding would not take place until a traveling minister would come to the area.If they lived close to where a Justice lived,then they would possibly get a civil marriage. Clyde
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirsten Bowman<mailto:>
To: <mailto:>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [UPPER-CANADA] My Reference to Recognized Marriages


Pat:

That's a very interesting timeline. Thanks for the link.

I wonder, though, whether the early settlers (1783-1800) knew or cared
exactly what the law was. Perhaps they simply tried to establish a society
similar to what they had left behind. Perhaps they felt that marriage was a
religious sacrament and not the business of government. I believe I've read
that at some point Governor Simcoe declared all existing common law
marriages to be legal. If that's true, then it sounds like there might have
been a lot of "invalid marrying" going on.

Kirsten

-----Original Message-----
From: <mailto:>
[mailto:]On Behalf Of <mailto:>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:43 AM
To: <mailto:>
Subject: Re: [UPPER-CANADA] My Reference to Recognized Marriages


Hi Kirsten

RE: Up until 1847 in Ontario (Upper Canada) they only recognized marriages
performed by the Church of England. (Perhaps I should have stated Marriages
that were considered Valid rather than recognized). One has to check the
time
line of the Marriage Laws of Upper Canada.

I could have clarified my respond more. My reference was to what was
considered Valid Marriages. Yes, other Protestant marriages were performed
during
this time, such as in 1815 the Methodist of New York State and their
Circuit
Rider clergymen also came into Upper Canada Ontario, also Scottish Church,
Baptist and other Protestant Churches.. However there was a time line for
approval
for all these Marriages performed in other Protestant Churches or by their
clergyman before they were considered Valid Marriages in Upper Canada.
Certain
other restrictions also applied. Prior to 1791 Upper Canada was part of
Quebec
(and the Marriage Laws in Quebec applied) and it became Canada West in 1841
until 1867 when it became Ontario. .

Here is a partial time line. Also, one needs to check the Maps for Upper
Canada which did include the part known as Northern Ontario or referred to
as New
Ontario.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~canon/research-topic-marriages.html<http://www.rootsweb.com/~canon/research-topic-marriages.html>;

Sorry for the confusion
Pat R




***********
see Upper Canada Genealogy & Resources at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/<http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/>;


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