Marriage license of Thomas Chippendale

This is the license for the marriage of Thomas Chippendale and Catherine Redshaw, dated 19th May 1748. They were married the same day at St George's Chapel, Mayfair. Marriage licenses or allegations were required by law in cases where no banns had been declared. They were often used when time was pressing, but it is not known whether there was any particular urgency in this case (the Chippendales' first child, Thomas, was born eleven months after the marriage). Both parties had to declare that they were of age and that there was no legal impediment to the marriage. They probably chose to marry in St George's Chapel, rather than in their parish church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, because the fees were lower, at only one guinea. Catherine Redshaw was Thomas Chippendale's first wife. She bore him nine children (five boys and four girls) and was buried in St Martin-in-the-Fields on 7 August 1772. In August 1777 he married again, to Elizabeth Davis, who bore three further children (a girl and two boys). Only four of Chippendale's children are known to have survived up to 1784, but among them was his first-born, Thomas junior (1749-1822), who took over the business after his father's death in 1779. Marriage licenses were sometimes kept among the parish records but were more commonly retained by the marrying couple. It is conceivable, therefore, that this document was owned by Thomas Chippendale at least until his death in 1779.

This item is owned by The Chippendale Society. Explore the Society’s website and collections by clicking the external link below.