This index includes all the details from the entries of marriage covering the period 5 April 1754 to 31 December 1812. During this period there were no less than 5083 marriages.

The Elland Parish Church or Chapeldry covered a wide area which included the villages of Barkisland, Brighouse, Elland, Fixby, Greetland, Norland, Rastrick, Rishworth, Sowerby, Soyland, and Stainland. There are many marriages of people from neighbouring parishes including, Halifax, Huddersfield, Almondbury, Hartshead, Mirfield, Birstal, Kirkburton and Kirkheaton along with the odd far away parish.

The entries are arranged in alphabetical order of Surname, Christian name and date of marriage. In this way an entry for a marriage can easily be located, saving many hours searching at Libraries. Each entry has been duplicated so that both bridegrooms and brides names appear in alphabetical order.

It must be emphasised that this is an index and not an exact transcript. Some incorrect spellings by the clergymen of some names and places have been corrected, for example the surname Abbay, Abbey, Abby, Abbey will all be found under the one spelling of Abbey. If you require the clerks spellings please consult the original register. In any case the original entry should always be consulted, as mistakes can be made, and witnesses to the marriage can also be obtained.

Each entry is arranged in eight columns.

  1. Date of Marriage (dd mm yyyy)

  2. Surname of Bridegroom / Bride

  3. Christian name of Bridegroom / Bride

  4. Surname of Bride / Bridegroom

  5. Christian name of Bride / Bridegroom

  6. Abode of Bridegroom / Bride

  To save space one field has been used for both the bridegroom’s and bride’s details. Their respective

  information is split with a / . Before the / is the information for the bridegroom and after the / appears the

  bride’s information. Some abbreviations have been used.

  OTP Of this Parish, i.e. Living in the Parish or Chapeldry of Elland.

  PAR Parish

  Where only one township is given this implies both parties came from there but the wording on the certificate

  was not conclusive.

  7. Occupation and or Status of Bridegroom/Bride

  Again to save space the information for the bridegroom appears before the / whereas the bride’s information

  appears after the /. Again some abbreviations have been used.

  BA - Bachelor WID- Widower/Widow SP / SPIN - Spinster

  8. Whether married by Banns of Licence B/L

15 08 1779	ABBEY	BRIAN	MELLOR	BETTY	BOTH OF THISPARISH	WEAVER/SPIN	B
06 05 1792	ABBEY	CHARLES	MIDGHLEY	SUSY	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	CORDWAINER/SPIN	B
25 04 1762	ABBEY	JANE	ALLENSON	ROBERT	SKIRCOAT HX/FIXBY	INNKEEPER/SPIN	B
05 06 1780	ABBEY	JENNY	MICKLETHWAITE	JOHN	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	SHALLOON MKR/S	B
27 12 1779	ABBEY	MARTHA	MELLOR	JOHN	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	MASON/WIDOW	B
27 03 1780	ABBEY	NANNY	RAMSDEN	HENRY	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	BLACKSMITH/SPIN	B
30 05 1757	ABBEY	WILLIAM	SHAW	MARTHA	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	WEAVER/SPIN	B
05 11 1792	AINLEY	ALICE	BOLTON	JOHN	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	WOOLCOMBER/SPIN	B
23 03 1788	AINLEY	ANN	PRIESTLEY	WILLIAM	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	-/-	B
08 04 1776	AINLEY	BETTY	NORCLIFFE	JOSHUA	BOTH OF THIS PARISH	WEAVER/SPIN	B