Family:John Stocker and Mary Unknown (1)

The Sussex Marriage Index has three marriages in the period leading up to 1752 of couples called John and Mary Stocker, all of which happen to be marriages by licence at the church of All Saints in Chichester, and in each case the groom was described as being a yeoman of South Bersted. The John Stocker who married in 1750 was described as “the elder” and the others are not, and the signatures on the marriage licences are apparently all different, suggesting that these three marriages are three different men. A John Stocker “the younger” was buried at South Bersted on 17th April 1750. The Mary who married in 1751 was already called Mary Stocker and described as a widow, but it has yet to be established who her first husband was.

1.   Chichester (All Saints), Sussex: Parish Registers (West Sussex County Council, Chichester).

   Possible marriages:
   1749 / Mar[ried] / John Stocker & Mary Tuff of Bersted Feb[ruary] 7th [i.e. 7 Feb 1749/50]
   1751 / Mar[ried] / John Stocker & Mary Stocker of Bersted Nov[ember] 26th
   1752 / Mar[ried] / John Stocker & Mary Mo[tl][de]rum of Bersted May 6 Li[cence]

2.   Pagham & Tarring Archbishop’s Peculiar: Marriage licences (West Sussex County Council, Chichester).

   First possible marriage licence:
   Know all Men by these Presents that We John Stocker of Southbersted in the County of Sussex the Elder Yeoman & Thomas Peerman of the City of Chichester in the County aforesaid Goldsmith are held and firmly Bound to the most Reverend Father in God Thomas by divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Two Hundred Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to the said most Reverend Father or his certain Attorney Executors Administrators or Assignes for the true Payment whereof we bind ourselves and either of us by himself for the whole and Every part thereof and the Heirs Executors and Administrators of us and either of us firmly by these Presents sealed with our Seals dated the Third day of February in the Three and Twentieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Nine [i.e. 3 Feb 1749/50]
   The Condition of this Obligation is such, That if there shall not hereafter appear any lawful Lett or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other just Cause whatsoever; but that the above bound John Stocker and One Mary Tuff of the Parish of Southbersted in the County of Sussex Maiden may lawfully Marry together; and that there is not any Suit depending before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Civil for or concerning any such Pre-contract: And that the Concent of the Parents, or others the Governors of the said Parties be thereunto first had and obtain[e]d: And that they cause their said Marriage to be openly solemniz[e]d in the Face of the Parish Church of Southbersted aforesaid between the Hours of Eight and Twelve of the Cock in the Forenoon: And do and shall save harmless and keep indemnified the abovenam[e]d most Reverend Father his Surrogates and all other his Officers and Successors in Office, for and concerning the Premises; That then this Obligation to be void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full Force and Virtue.
   John Stocker
   Sealed and delivered in the Presence of:
   Ann Peeman
   Will[?] Wakeford
   Tho[ma]s Peerman
   
   Second possible marriage licence:
   Know all Men by these Presents that We John Stocker of Southbersted in the County of Sussex Yeoman & William Stocker of Aldingbourne in the County aforesaid Yeoman are held and firmly Bound to the most Reverend Father in God Thomas by divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Two Hundred Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to the said most Reverend Father or his certain Attorney Executors Administrators or Assignes for the true Payment whereof we bind ourselves and either of us by himself for the whole and Every part thereof and the Heirs Executors and Administrators of us and either of us firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals dated the Second day of November in the Twenty Fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King & Defender of the Faith and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty One.
   The Condition of this Obligation is such: That if there shall not hereafter appear any lawful Lett or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other just Cause whatsoever; but that the above bound John Stocker and One Mary Stocker of the Parish of Southbersted in the County of Sussex Widow may lawfully Marry together; and that there is not any Suit depending before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Civil for or concerning any such Pre-contract: And that the Consent of the Parents, or others the Governors of the said Parties be thereunto first had and obtain[e]d: And that they cause their said Marriage to be openly solemniz[e]d in the Face of the Parish Church of Southbersted aforesaid between the Hours of Eight and Twelve of the Cock in the Forenoon: And do and shall save harmless and keep indemnified the abovenam[e]d most Reverend Father his Surrogates and all other his Officers and Successors in Office, for and concerning the Premises; That then this Obligation to be void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full Force and Virtue.
   John Stocker
   Sealed and delivered in the Presence of:
   Will[?] Wakeford N.P.
   William Stocker
   
   Third possible marriage licence:
   Know all Men by these Presents that We John Stocker of Southbersted in the County of Sussex Yeoman & John Weller of the City of Chichester in the County aforesaid Upholsterer are held and firmly bound to the most Reverend Father in God Thomas by divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Two Hundred Pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to the said most Reverend Father or his certain Attorney Executors Administrators or Assignes for the true Payment whereof we bind ourselves and either of us by himself for the whole and Every part thereof and the Heirs Executors and Administrators of us and either of us firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals dated the Sixth day of May in the Twenty Fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Two.
   The Condition of this Obligation is such: That if there shall not hereafter appear any lawful Lett or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other just Cause whatsoever; but that the above bound John Stocker and One Mary Morterum of the Parish of Southbersted in the County of Sussex Widow may lawfully Marry together; and that there is not any Suit depending before any Judge Ecclesiastical or Civil for or concerning any such Pre-contract: And that the Consent of the Parents, or others the Governors of the said Parties be thereunto first had and obtain[e]d: And that they cause their said Marriage to be openly solemniz[e]d in the Face of the Parish Church of Southbersted aforesaid between the Hours of Eight and Twelve of the Cock in the Forenoon: And do and shall save harmless and keep indemnified the abovenam[e]d most Reverend Father his Surrogates and all other his Officers and Successors in Office, for and concerning the Premises; That then this Obligation to be void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full Force and Virtue.
   John Stocker
   Sealed and delivered in the Presence of:
   Will[?] Wakeford
   John Weller