Thank you again. My source on the Roberts is a fascinating manuscript found in my great uncle's attic on his death. It is my G grandfather's writing and that of his brother in law and is the notes for an attempt by the family to prove themselves the heirs to an estate which they seem to be trying to take through the probate courts at St Asaph. The document, written in 1904, and signed by Elizabeth and her brothers, while Joseph Speed (who started all this correspondence!) was still alive contains very specific details about the Roberts, including exact dates of birth for Elizabeth and her brothers and death dates and locations for their father and his brothers. These details would have been extremely important in the claim. The document also provides some information about one generation further back, again talking about three brothers - known in the district as cattle dealers. The family seems to have been centred around St Asaph and Tremeirchion which would have been a fair distance away from Buckley in those days, so I wonder how Elizabeth and Joseph might have met. Perhaps he was a long-haul carter!

So, plenty there for me to research on IGI and BMD when I have the time.

By the way, how would I know whether the marriage was by licence. Would it say so on the cert?

Thanks again!

The standard CoE form of that era has a space to indicate whether the marriage was by licence or by/after banns. With regard to distances, you would be surprised how far some people walked in those days, never mind how far they rode. You obviously have an interesting journey of your own in your search back through the family tree.