19 Mar 2023

I found an interesting document today. It’s a marriage licence between Francis Gosling and Thomas West for Francis marriage to Catherine West, presumable Thomas’ daughter.

I believe Francis my 6x great grandfather, the father of Francis Gosling (who married Frances Roberts), father of Frances Gosling who married William Snowling.

The text of the licence is as follows:

Know all men by these present, That we Francis Gosling of the Parish of Fressingfield in the county of Suffolk Linen Weaver and Thomas West of the Parish of Barnby in the same county Cord Wainer are bolden and firmly bound to the worshipful George Landby Doctor in Divinity, Official Principal of the Episcopal Consistory Court of NORWICH, lawfully appointed, in the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds of good and lawful Money of Great-Britain, to be paid to the said George Landby , or his certain Attorney, Successors or Agents: To which Payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, and each of us by himself for the whole, our and each of our Heirs Executors and Administrators, firmly by there Presents. Sealed with our Seals, Dated the Eighth Day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Eight.

The Condition of this obligation is such, That if hereafter there shall not appear any lawful Let or Impediment, by Reason of any Precontract entered into before the Twenty-fifth of March 1754, Consanguinity, Affinity or any other Cause whatsoever that the above bounden Thomas Gosling, singleman & Catharine West of Barnby single woman, both being of full aged may lawfully solemnize Marriage together and the same afterwards lawfully remain and continue for Man and Wife, according to the Laws in that Behalf provided: And moreover, if there be not at this present Time any Action, Suit, Plaint, Quarrel, or Demand, moved or depending before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Temporal, for or concerning any such lawful Impediment between the said parties: Nor that either of them be of any other Parish, or of better Estate or Degree, than to the Judge at granting of the License is suggested, and sworn by the said Francis Gosling.

And lastly, if the same Marriage shall be openly solemnized in the Church _______________________ [blank] in the Licence specified between the Hours appointed in the Constitutions Ecclesiastical continued, and according to the Form of the Book of Common-Prayer, now by Law established and do have harmless and indemnified the abovementioned George Landby. his surrogate, and all other his Officers whatsoever by Reason of the Premisses, then this Obligation to be void, or else to remain in full Force and Virtue.

Sealed and Delivered

to the Presence of

Susanna Colby (signed)

John Francis (signed)

Francis Gostling[sic] (signed)

Thos West (signed)

The Eighth Day of September 1768

On which Day appeared personally Francis Gosling of the Parish of Fressingfield in the County of Suffolk in which said Parish he has made his usual Abode for the space of Four Weeks last past, and made Oath that he is of the Age of twenty eight years and upwards and a singleman and intends to Marry with Catherine West in the county of Suffolk in which said Parish _________________________ [blank] the hath had her usual Abode for the Space of Four Weeks last past, aged twenty three years and upwards, and a singlewoman not knowing or believing any lawful Let or Impediment, by Reason of any Precontract enter’d into before the Twenty-fifth Day of March 1754, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other Cause whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage: And that the said Marriage shall be solemnized in no other Parish Church than abovementioned.

Francis Gostling[sic] (signed)

The said Francis Gosling signed the above Affidaviit and was sworn to the Truth thereof at Barnby in the County of Suffolk the Eighth Day of September 1768 before me John Francis Clerk Surrogate to the Chancellor of Norwich.¹

It’s interesting that it places Francis Gosling back in Fressingfield. His marriage took place on 8th Sep 1768 in Barnby which is quite a way to the East, near Lowestoft. Their children were born in Barnby and nearby Mutford. Their son Francis married Frances Roberts in Carlton Colville and their daughter Frances ended up in Fressingfield.

It also mentions his age as 28, his trade as a linen weaver and Catherine’s age as 23.