Comparing Marriage Banns and records for the same couple.

In the past when accessing original parish records was a lot more difficult I would settle for the marriage entry as proof of the event, not bothering to locate the banns considering them of little real value.  A flawed strategy I know but one dictated by lack of time and money.  These reasons however are no longer valid now that the Cornish Parish records are freely available online; I am now revisiting my previous research.  I didn't really expect to find any further information however to my surprise I have found precious titbits that I had previous missed. Looking at both the banns and marriage record has given me further clues for my ongoing research that I didn't expect. 

Below are the results of investigating 2 marriages for Mary Nance. I have also included the links so that if you can see the original parish entries.

I originally believed my 3 x grandmother Mary Nance was born in Perrazabuloe however after visiting the banns it looks like she has come from the adjacent parish of Kenwyn, Cornwall. As a result of comparing both the banns and marriage entries,  I have now concluded that Mary Nance aka George was not born in Perranzabuloe because in the marriage banns of her marriage to Hezekiah Bennetts she  is identified as a sojourner

A sojourner “means someone who is a temporary resident, but in Parish Registers its meaning is a little more precise. When the Hardwicke Act was introduced in 1754, clerks were required to enter the parish for each party to a marriage. If they had been resident for more than 3 weeks then they were shown as “o.t.p.” (of this parish). However, for someone who had only taken up residence in lodgings to avoid the necessity for banns fees, this was frowned upon and the word “sojourner” was added to the entry to indicate that they had met the letter of the law but didn't really belong.”( Found in the Glossary of the website belonging to West Penwith Resources at  http://west-penwith.org.uk/wpenlink.htm)

In contrast in both the banns and marriage of her first marriage to Henry George she is identified as “being of this parish” which is Kenwyn, Cornwall.  So now I have both her father’s name “Thomas Nance” and her possible place of birth Kenwyn, Cornwall, and she was born in 1802.  Stay tuned for further developments.

Links to original parish entries

Marriage banns Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Banns from Peranzabuloe parish records Marriage banns, 1823-1844 page 180 for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary Nance (image 93))

I PUBLISH the banns of Marriage between Hezekiah Benne(unable to read in the crease of the page, so I am assuming when I cross reference the entry on the CORNWALL ONLINE PARISH CLERKS (Genealogy) website that is the entry for Hezekiah Bennetts) of this parish Bachelor and Mary George Sojourner in the Parish Widow.If any of you know cause of just impediment why these two Persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.This is the first time of asking --- Dated 10th day of March 182This is the second time of asking --- Dated the 17th day of March 1839This is the third time of asking --- Dated 24th day of March 182

Marriage record for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary George

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Entry for Hezekiah Bennetts & Mary Nance Page 24. (Image 26))

1839.  Marriage Solemnized in the Church in the Parish of Perranaluloe in the County of Cornwall.No. 47When Married March 28Name and Surname Hezekiah Bennetts, age 21, Condition Bachelor, Rank or Profession Miner, Residence at the time of the marriage Chiverton, Father's Name and Surname Philip Bennetts, Rank or Profession of Father HusbandmanName and Surname Mary George, age 26, Condition  Widow, Rank or Profession Husbandman   Residence at the time of the marriage  ????, Father's Name and Surname Thomas Nance, Rank or Profession of Father
Married in the Church of Perran according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me.  George Bellamy.This marriage was solemnized between us Hezekiah Bennetts sign Mary George's sign in the Presence of us, Edward Searle Symons, & Francis Veall

Marriage Banns for Henry George and Mary Nance 

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage Banns Kenwyn parish records Marriage banns 1836-1844, Page 36 (Image 21))

I PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between Henry George and Mary Nance both of this Parish.If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it.This is the first time of asking dated 4th day of Dec 1836This is the second time of asking - Dated the 11the day of Dec 1836This is the third time of asking - Dated the 18 day of Dec 1836

Marriage record for Henry George and Mary Nance 

(FamilySearch. England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010, Marriage entry from from Kenwyn parish records Marriages, 1829-1841 page Page 194 (image 100) for Henry George & Mary Nance. )

MARRIAGES solemnized in the Parish of Kenwyn in the County of Cornwall in the Year 1836Henry George of this Parish and Mary Nance of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns this nineteenth Day of December in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty six
By me George CornishThis Marriage was solemnized between us X Henry George mark Mary Nance markIn the Presence of X Richard George's Mark  X Margaret Con?? Mark