Two male witnesses at Wedding

[darrenoconaill]

Hi Folks,

just wondering how unusual (if at all) was it for a couple to have two male witnesses at their wedding . I always assumed that there had to be a male and a female as witnesses but I've come across a couple of instances now where both were male. Is this unusual? And if so under what circumstances?

Thanks

darren

[Jim McNamara]

Hi Darren,

I just finished transcribing Scariff Marriages (316) and yes, common to have two male or two female witnesses. In one case I found one male and two female witnesses recorded. I will put all of the unusual ones here:

Marriages of:
- Michl White to Anne Minogue (23 APR 1855) w/witnesses John White & Miles ODonnell
- Michl Walsh to Mary Sheridan (24 JAN 1858) w/witnesses Bat Sheridan & John Coffee
- Edward OFarrell to Margaret Fitzpatrick (27 OCT 1862) w/witnesses Patt Carey, Miss Wallnutt & Miss Mary Ml Skehan

Some weddings recorded with no witnesses recorded at all, and probably 5 or 6 of those of this 316.

I don't know why but perhaps just to fill in when one person didn't make it.

All the best,

[Kevin J. O'Brien]

Daren,

I have look at many Irish marriage records civil and church and have found two males listed as witnesses. I have noticed in a few cases that the witnesses names were the same names as the father's of the Bride and Groom.

I don't know if this is just a coincidence. With such large families brothers of the married couples would have the same first names.

Slan,
Kevin J. O'Brien

[darrenoconaill]

That's great. Thanks guys.

Darren

[kate2013]

Hi! Newbie here.

Was it generally family that appeared as witnesses at weddings and as sponsors at baptisms?

[Jim McNamara]

Hello newbie, yes it was very common to have family members witnessing the weddings from the records I have seen.

[kate2013]

Thank you Jim

Just another piece of the puzzle.

I have two male witnesses at my GGF's wedding btw