In Quaker marriages the couple consent to take one another as partners in a lifelong long commitment of faithfulness and love. All who are present are asked to help by prayer and support, silent or spoken. Wedding rings play no formal part in Quaker marriages, although many couples do like to give each other rings after they have made their declaration. When a meeting closes everyone who has been present is invited to sign the Quaker marriage certificate. Some of them had very many witnesses and in the record quoted below we have only mentioned some of the names.
See also Quaker Births Quaker Burials and Quaker History
We have begun to compile a list of the marriages of Thornbury people as recorded in the Quaker registers. Unfortunately the registers don’t show details of where a family lived but we have tried to limit the entries to those families with connections to Thornbury.
On these older records Quakers typically did not use the names of the months or days of the week because most of these names were derived from pagan gods (e.g. Thursday came from “Thor’s Day”). Instead, they recorded dates using numbers to describe the day of the week and month of the year. To confuse things even more, up to and including 1751 they were still using the old Julian Calendar in which the year started on 25th March. The existence of two calendars led to the use ‘double-dating’ in respect of recording dates in January, February and March. Thus as you will see below the dates of ’31st day 11th month 1705/6′ would be 31st January in 1703 under the old style Julian calendar, but 31st January 1704 under the new style Gregorian calendar.
From 1752 onwards the dates were still recorded using numbers of the days and months in a particular year but the numbers were based on the modern calendar so the dates are the same as we use today. In the listing below we have included the date as shown in the register and the date as expressed under the modern Gregorian calendar. Please note that the ‘Piece and Folio numbers’ where quoted are those used by the Public Record Office.
| Year | Name | Date in Register | Modern Format | Witnesses Include | Piece & Folio Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1672 | Mary Bradshaw of Thornbury to John Hollaway of Thornbury at Frenchay | ? | 28th September 1672 | ||
| 1675 | John Shermer of Purton in Wilts and Elizabeth Smith of Thornbury | Ê11th day 8th month 1675 | 11th October 1675 | RG6/1190 page 14 | |
| 1675 | Francis Pinnell senior of Olveston and Bridgett Taylor of Thornbury | 19th day 3rd month 1675 | 19th May 1675 | RG6/1190 page 14 | |
| 1678 | John Gayner of Thornbury and Alice Williams of the same | 8th day 7th month 1678 | 8th September 1678 | RG6/1190 page 15 | |
| 1678 | Thomas Morris and Mary Holloway both of Thornbury | 24th day 9th month 1678 | 24th November 1678 | RG6/1190 page 15 | |
| 1678 | John Cooksy of Thornbury and Hannah Russell of Littleton | 12th day 3rd month 1678 | 12th May 1678 | RG6/1190 page 14 | |
| 1679 | John Boulton of Olveston and Mary Packer of Morton daughter of John Packer | 2nd day 2nd month 1679 | 2nd day April 1679 | RG6/1190 page 15 | |
| 1679 | Andrew Williams of Olveston and Hannah Thurston of the same daughter of Samuel Thurston of Thornbury | 27th day 2nd month 1679 | 27th April 1679 | RG6/1190 page 15 | |
| 1679 | Phillip Mansell of Thornbury (sic but see witnesses) and Dorothy Steef (sic but see witnesses) of Over manifested their intentions on the 3rd day 6th month commonly called August 1679 published on 14th day on the same month and year | 3rd day 7th month called September in the year according to consultation now used in England 1679 | 3rd September 1679 | Phillip Mansfild, Dorothy Mansfild, Thomas Stiff, Daniel Stiff, Joseph Mansfield,Ê etc | RG6/1359 |
| 1679 | John Adams of Coat in the parish of Olveston and Jane Guffers ? of Ircott in the parish of Almondsbury | 8th day 3rd month 1679 | 8th May 1679 | RG6/1190 page 15 | |
| 1681 | Thomas Joans of Thornbury and Sarah Wilks manifested their intentions 5th day 4th month 1681 published on 19th day 4th month the year aforesaid | 28th day 4th month called June 1681 | 28th June 1681 | RG6/1426 Folio 2 | |
| 1682 | William Whitt ? of ? in Monmouth yeoman and Mary Littell of Thornbury manifested their intentions 23rd day 3rd month 1682 and published on 11th day 4th month 1682 at Thornbury | 4th day 5th month 1682 | 4th July 1682 | Sarah Little | RG6/1426 Folio3 |
| 1682 | Christopher Young of Hoape yeoman and Alis Boy of Tytherington manifested their intentions 7th day 11th month 1682, published at Thornbury 25th day of 12th month 1682 | 13th day 1st month 1682/3 | 13th March 1683 | Francis Boye, Jacob Young, Hester Boye, Joseph Boye etc | RG6/1426 Folio 4 |
| 1682 | Daniel Weare of Thornbury saddler and Hannah Packer ? of Morton manifested their intentions 24th day 10th month 1682, published at Thornbury 18th day 12th month 1682 | 10th day 2nd month 1683 | 10th April 1683 | RG6/1426 Folio 4 | |
| 1683 | William Neck of Eastwood in the parish of Thornbury yeoman and Sarah Lansdown of same manifested their intentions on the 11th day 9th month 1683, published on 23rd day 10th month 1683 at Thornbury | 12th day 12th month 1683 | 12th February 1684 | Mary Lansdown, Joan Lansdown etc | RG6/1426 Folio 5 |
| 1683/4 | Thomas Summers of Pensford in Somerset baker and Elizabeth Smith of Newton manifested their intentions on 10th day 12th month 1683/4, published on 9th day 1st month 1683/4 at Pensford and at Thornbury | 23rd day 1st month 1683/4 | 23rd March 1684 | RG6/1426 Folio 5 | |
| 1683/84 | Thomas Wickam of Marshfield saddle maker and Sarah Littell of Thornbury manifested their intentions 16th day 1st month 1683/84, published at Marshfield and Thornbury on 20th day 2nd month 1684 | 4th day 3rd month 1684 | 4th May 1684 | Martha Little, Thomas Morris etc | RG6/1426 Folio 6 |
| 1686 | Francis Boy of Tytherington and Hannah Young daughter of Christopher Young of Irkett manifested their intentions 21st day 1st month 1685 published 18th day 2nd month 1685 | 16th day 3rd month 1686 | 16th June 1686 | John Young Christopher Young | RG6/1426 Folio 7 |
| 1687 | John Mabett of Thornbury baker and Susanah Andrews of same manifested their intentions 13th day 9th month 1687 and published on 18th day 10th month 1687 in Thornbury | 11th month called January 1687 | January 1688 | Thomas Mabett Elizabeth Mabett etc | RG6/1426 Folio 8 |
| 1687 | John Hawes of Kingsington in Middlesex husbandman and Mary Thurston of Thornbury manifested their intentions on 19th day 12th month 1687 and published at Thornbury on 25th day 1st month called March 1688 | 4th day 2nd month 1688 | 4th April 1688 | Susann Hawes, Elizabeth Thurston, Jonathan Thurston, John Thurston etc | RG6/1426 Folio 8 |
| 1688 | Henry Jenkings of Oldbury husbandman and Mary Cox of Morton manifested their intentions 11th day 10th month 1687 and published at Thornbury 4th day 1st month 1687/8 | 17th day 2nd month called April 1688 | 17th April 1688 | RG6/1426 Folio 9 | |
| 1689 | Jonathan Thurston of Thornbury baker and Susannah Haws of Thornbury manifested their intentions 14th day 2nd month 1689 and published at Thornbury on 16th day 4th month 1689 | 7th day 5th month 1689 | 7th July 1689 | John Thurston, Anna Thurston, Jane Thurston, Sarah Thurston etc | RG6/1426 Folio 9 |
| 1690 | William Witt of Morton yeoman and Alis Thorne of Thornbury manifested their intentions 8th day 4th month 1690 published 7th day 7th month 1690 | 14th day of 7th month 1690 | 14th September 1690 | RG6/1426 Folio 10 | |
| 1690 | William Burton of Thornbury schoolmaster and Sarah Weeks of Alveston manifested their intentions 18th day 11th month called January 1690 and published at Thornbury 22nd day of 12th month 1690 | 22nd day 1st month 1690 | 22nd day March 1691 | Elizabeth Weeks etc | RG6/1426 Folio 1 |
| 1691 | Thomas Morris of Thornbury baker and Christian Hawksworth of Thornbury manifested their intentions on the 18th day 8th month 1691 published on 15th day 9th month 1691 at Thornbury | 2nd day 10th month 1691 | 2nd December 1691 | William Morris, Thomas Alloway etc | RG6/1426 Folio 2 |
| 1691/2 | James Motley of Thornbury cordwinder and Sarah Thurston of Thornbury manifested their intentions on 27th day 10th month 1691 published at Thornbury 14th day 12th month 1691 | 6th day 1st month 1691/2 | 6th January 1692 | RG6/1426 Folio 10 | |
| 1693 | Joel Cob of Hill and Mary Tayler daughter of Thomas Tayler of Milbury Heath manifested their intentions on 26th day 11th month 1692, published at Thornbury on 19th day 1st month 1692/3 | 16th day 2nd month called April 1693 | 16th April 1693 | Thomas Tayler, Robert Tayler and Sarah Tayler etc | RG6/1426 Folio 11 |
| 1694 | Thomas Edwards of Thornbury and Mary Player of Thornbury manifested their intentions on the 29th day 2nd month 1694 and published at Thornbury 7th day 8th month 1694 | 14th day 8th month 1694 | 14th October 1694 | James Player, Samuel Player, Sarah Player and Alice Player etc | RG6/1426 Folio 12 |
| 1695 | Mary Barton of Thornbury to Joseph Cannings junior victualler or butcher at Frenchay manifested their intentions on 10th day 1st month 1694/5 published at Thornbury on 9th day 4th month 1695 | 1st day 7th month called September 1695 | 1st September 1695 | Joseph Canings, John Barton, Jonathan Barton, Thomas Barton snr | RG6/1426 Folio 13 |
| 1696 | John Packer of Morton yeoman and Sarah Smart of Morton manifested their intentions 24th day 3rd month 1696 and published at Thornbury 6th day 4th month 1696 | 23rd day 4th month 1696 | 23rd June 1696 | Henry Smart, John Packer etc | RG6/1426 Folio 13 |
| 1698 | John Mabett of Thornbury baker and Sarah Paker (Packer?) of Morton manifested their intentions of marriage 14th day 6th month 1698 published on 18th day 7th month 1698 | 19th day 8th month 1698 | 19th October 1698 | RG6/1426 Folio 14 | |
| 1698 | Thomas Allway of Thornbury ? and Rebeca Thurston of Thornbury manifested their intentions on 17th day 5th month 1698 published at Thornbury 14th day 6th month 1698 | 19th day 8th month 1698 | 19th October 1698 | Anna Thurston John Thurston junior etc | RG6/1426 Folio 15 |
| 1700 | Joell Cob of Hull alias Hill husbandman and Joane Grifen of ? manifested their intentions on 1st day 7th month 1700 published their intentions at Thornbury 20th day 8th month 1700 | 14th day 9th month 1700 | 14th November 1700 | Micaiah Cobb | RG6/1426 Folio 15 |
| 1704 | Richard Wadge of Port Isaac Cornwall mariner and Elizabeth Thurston of Thornbury manifested their intentions on 3rd day 2nd month 1704 at Olveston published 9th day 2nd month 1704 at Minver in Cornwall and on 16th day of 2nd month 1704 at Thornbury | 3rd day 3rd month 1704 (at Olveston) | 3rd May 1704 | Sarah Thurston, Mary Thurston, Edward Thurston, Dorothy Thurston, John and Susannah Thurston etc. | RG6/1426 Folio 17 |
| 1705/6 | Charles Fowler of Woodchester mercer son of John Fowler of Minchinhampton and Mary Thurston daughter of Sarah Thurston of Thornbury widow | 14th day 1st month called March 1705/6 | 14th March 1706 | Sarah Thurston Daniel Fowler and Sarah Fowler etc | RG6/1426 Folio 18 |
| 1707 | Joseph Sturge junior of Gaunts Ircott and Mary Young of Rough Ircott manifested their intentions on 3rd day of 12th month 1706 and published on 16th day 1st month 1706 at Olveston and 23rd day of 1st month 1706 at Thornbury | 6th day 3rd month 1707 | 6th May 1707 | Joseph Sturge, Jacob Young, Jacob Young junior, Thomas Sturge, Hester Young, Christopher Young, Nathan Sturge, Elizabeth Sturge and Mary Sturge etc | RG6/1426 Folio 19 |
| 1707 | Nathaniel Cooksey son of John Cooksey of Thornbury and Hester Boy daughter of Francis Boy of Stidcott in the parish of Tytherington manifested their intentions on the 7th day 2nd month 1707 at Olveston. They were published on 18th day 3rd month 1707 at Thornbury. | 2nd day 5th month 1707 | 2nd July 1707 | John Cooksey, Francis Boy, Hannah Boy, William Boy, Hannah Boy, William Cooksey etc | RG6/1426 Folio 19 |
| 1708 | George Bingham of Thornbury married Anne Fowler of Thornbury at Frenchay | 30th day 1st month 1708 | 30th March 1708 | 23+ | RG6/1426 folio 24 |
| 1707 | Jane Bishop of Chipping Sodbury to Edward Parker of Thornbury mercer | 8th day 2nd month 1707 | 8th April 1707 | 28+ | RG6/1443 folio 13 |
| 1709 | John Thurston junior mercer of Thornbury and Hester Young daughter of Christopher Young late of Rough Ircot deceased | 27th day 1st month 1709 | 27th March 1709 | 43+ | RG6/1426 folio 24 |
| 1709 | John Gainer junior of Thornbury to Hannah Boy daughter of Francis Boy of Stidcott in Tytherington manifested their intentions on 6th day 4th month called June 1709 published their intentions on 17th day of 5th month called July 1709 | 17th day of 6th month called August 1709 | 17th August 1709 | John Gayner Richard Gayner William Gayner Francis Boy and Hannah Boy etc | RG6/1426 Folio 21 |
| 1710 | Edward Parker of Thornbury mercer and Susanna Allway of the same manifested their intentions 3rd day 2nd month called April 1710 published at Thornbury 1st day 3rd month called May 1710 | 13th day 4th Month called June 1710 | 13th June 1710 | RG6/1426 Folio 21 | |
| 1713 | Samuel Thurston of Thornbury baker and Mary Mutley spinster daughter of James Mutley of Morton manifested their intentions 2nd day 9th month 1713 at Frenchay published at Thornbury 20th day 10th month 1713 | 17th day 12th month 1713 | 17th February 1714 | James Mutley Jonathan Thuston Susanna Thurston George Mutley John Thurston Hannah Thurston John Thurston Sarah Thurston Susanna Thurston jnr etc | RG6/1426 Folio 24 |
| 1713 | James Reeve late of Antigua and Jane White of Thornbury spinster signified their intentions onÊ 2nd day 9th month 1713 at Frenchay, published at Thornbury on 20th day 10th month next following | 14th day 11th month 1713 | 14th January 1714 | Charles and Frances Reeve etc | RG6/1426 Folio 23 |
| 1717 | Joseph Player of Thornbury cooper and Susanna Parker widow of same place manifested their intentions at Olveston 2nd day 10th month called December 1717 published 20th day 11th month following in Thornbury | 23rd day 12th month 1717. | 23rd February 1718 | RG6/1426 Folio 25 | |
| 1718 | Bovey Clarke son of John Clarke tallow chandler and Sarah Boye spinster daughter of Francis Boye late of Tytherington yeoman deceased manifested their intentions 2nd day 12th month called February 1718 at Sodbury and published on 22nd day of 1st month called March next at Thornbury | 12th day 3rd month called May 1719 | 12th May 1719 | William Boye, | RG6/1426 Folio 27 |
| 1718 | Joseph Mabbett of Thornbury taylor and Hannah Thurston spinster eldest daughter of Jonathan Thurston late of Thornbury baker deceased manifested their intentions 3rd day 12th month 1717 at Sodbury, published on 9th day 1st month 1718 at Thornbury | 25th day 1st month 1718 | 25th March 1718 | Susannah Thurston, John Thurston, Joseph Thurston, John Thurston jnr, Sarah Thurston, Susannah Thurston jnr, Jonathan Thurston, Hester Thurston, Mary Mabbett etc | RG6/1426 Folio 26 |
| 1719 | John Thurston of Thornbury baker and Mary Hibbs of same spinster manifested their intentions 5th day 11th month called January 1718, published on 22nd day of 12th month following at Thornbury | 7th day 2nd month called April 1719 | 7th April 1719 | Susannah Thurston,Ê Joseph Thurston, John Thurston, Jonathan Thurston,Ê Sarah Thurston, Susannah Thurston junior,Ê Hester Thurston etc | RG6/1426 Folio 26 |
| 1721 | William Boye of Tytherington and Hester Tyler daughter of Samuel Tyler of Frampton Cotterell tanner lately deceased manifested their intentions 6th day 1st month 1720 at Frenchay, published 23rd day 2nd month following at Frenchay | 22nd dayÊ 4th month 1721 | 22nd June 1721 | Elizabeth Boye, Hannah Boye etc | RRG6/1366 |
| 1723 | George Mutley of Morton and Elizabeth Boye spinster one of the daughters of Francis Boye late of Tytherington yeoman deceased manifested their intentions on 6th day 11th month called January last passed and published 23rd day 12th month following at Thornbury | 18th day 1st month called March 1723 | 18th March 1723 | James Mutley and Sarah Mutley etc | RG6/1426 Folio 29 |
| 1723 | Richard Robbins late of Cirencester now of Thornbury and Mary Thurston of Thornbury manifested their intentions at Olveston on 5th day 6th month called August last passed andÊ published on 22nd day of 7th month following at Thornbury | 15th day 8th month called October 1723 | 15th October 1723 | 21 names | RG6/1426 Folio 33 |
| 1724 | Charles Fowler of Woodchester mercer and Elizabeth White of Thornbury widow | 7th day 1st month called March 1724 | 7th March 1724 | RG6/1426 Folio 30 | |
| 1726 | Theophilus Lewis of Cirencester yeoman and Elizabeth Holland of Thornbury spinster manifested their intentions 4th day 2nd month called April 1726 published 15th day 3rd month following at Thornbury | 19th day 4th month 1726 | 19th June 1726 | William Lewis Nathaniel Lewis Hannah Holland etc | RG6/1426 Folio 31 |
| 1727 | William Lewis of Cirencester clothier and Hannah Holland of Thornbury spinster manifested their intentions on 2nd day 11th month 1726 published 19th day 12th month 1726 at Thornbury | 12th day 1st month called March 1727 | 12th March 1727 | Theophilus Lewis etc | RG6/1426 Folio 31 |
| 1729 | Jonathan Blanch of Rough Erthcott yeoman and Mary Frampton eldest daughter of Robert Frampton of Thornbury maltster | 20th day 2nd month 1729 | 20th April 1729 | 16 names | RG6/1426 folio 37 |
| 1730 | John Powell of Thornbury cooper and Mary Player spinster one of the daughters of Joseph Player of Thornbury cooper manifested their intentions 2nd day 9th month called November last passed, published 3rd day 11th month called January instant | 31st day of 11th month called January 1730 | 31st January 1731 | Joseph Player | RG6/1426 Folio 34 |
| 1732/33 | John Cooksey of Bristol cordwainer and Elizabeth Bonner daughter of John Bonner late of Taunton mason deceased signified their intentions on 12th day of 1st month 1732/33 published their intentions on 3rd day 2nd month following | 26th day of 2nd month 1733 (at Bristol) | 26th April 1733 | Hester Cooksey, Hannah Cooksey etc | RG6/1417 |
| 1735 | Isaac Sharples of Winscombe in Somerset yeoman and Hester Thurston of Thornbury widow having declared their intentions | 15th day 2nd month called April 1735 | 15th April 1735 | 46+ | RG6/1426 Folio 35 |
| 1736 | Hugh Greenfield of Nailsea in Somerset yeoman and Elinor Tanner of Kington spinster | 22nd day 6th month called June 1736 | 22nd June 1736 | William Tanner, Mary Tanner, Hugh Greenfield etc | RG6/1426 Folio 36 |
| 1756 | Joseph Powell tallow chandler and soap boiler of the parish of St James in County of Gloucester son of John and Mary Powell of Ashley Farm in said County and Sarah Davis of Thornbury daughter of Webb and Rachell Davis both deceased | 22nd day 12th Month 1756 | 22nd December 1756 | Webb Davis, John Powell snr, Esther Davis, John Powell etc | RG6/1426 Folio 42 |
| 1770 | Charles Trusted son of Charles Trusted of Walford in the County of Hereford yeoman by Elizabeth his wife and Mary Motley daughter of James Motley of Morton yeoman by Hannah his wife both deceased | 12th day 12th month called December 1770 at Thornbury | 12th December 1770 | Thomas Trusted, James Motley, Ann Motlry etc | RG6/1426 Folio 44 |
| 1779 | Jabez Thorp of Nottingham woolstapler son of Joseph Thorp late of Crompton in County of York deceased by Mary his wife and Maria Holdship daughter of Richard and Betty Holdship of Thornbury | 22nd 6th month called June 1779 | 22nd June 1779 | Betty Holdship, Sophia Holdship | RG6/335 Folio 2 |
| 1790 | George Burge of city of Bristol baker son of Isaac Burge and Hannah his wife and Sarah Cole daughter of William Cole taylor of Thornbury and Sarah his wife deceased. | 22nd September 1790 | 22nd September 1790 | Isaac Burge, Richard Burge, Susannah Burge, William Cole, Mary Cole, George Cole, Eliz. Cole, John Cole etc | RG6/335 Folio 19 |
| 1790 | Thomas Cole of Thornbury taylor son of William Cole taylor of Thornbury and Sarah his wife deceased and Martha Young of Thornbury daughter of Thomas Young deceased and Mary his wife of Thornbury | 22nd September 1790 | 22nd September 1790 | Mary Young junior, William Cole, Mary Cole, George Cole, Eliz. Cole, John Cole etc | RG6/335 Folio 20RG6/1426 Folio 46 |
| 1793 | Robert Young schoolmaster of Thornbury son of Thomas Young deceased and Martha his wife and Mary Motley of Morton widow daughter of Joseph Clarke yeoman deceased and Hannah his wife of Temple in SomersetÊThe last wedding in the old Meeting House | 3rd April 1793 | 3rd April 1793 | Hannah Clarke Jno. Clarke, Thomas Young, Thomas Motley etc | RG6/335 Folio 23RG6/335 Folio 47 |
| 1825 | James Thurlow of High Wycombe, Bucks, son of Thomas Thurlow of Diss in Norfolk woolcomber & Sarah both deceased and Lydia Young daughter of Robert Young of Thornbury grocer and Mary his wife | 8th day 9th month 1825 | 8th September 1825 | Joseph Motley, Kingweston yeoman + 3 more | RG6/362 folio 48 |
| 1834 | William Palmer of Gloucester son of William Palmer of Radway, Warwickshire, yeoman deceased and Hannah his wife and Jane Wansborough daughter of John Wansborough gentleman of Thornbury and Mary his wife. | 9th day 7th month 1834 | 9th July 1834 | John Beard of Olveston yeoman, James Moxham schoolmaster of Thornbury & Edmund Watts schoolmaster of Charlbury | |
| 1845 | Joseph Young Sturge, full age, land surveyor of 9 Southwell Street, son of Young Sturge, land surveyor and Caroline Harwood, full age, of Portland Square, daughter of Samuel Harwood leather factor. | ? | 11th February 1845 |