My gt-grandfather was Michael Roberts born 1834 to Thomas Roberts and Ellen Davis. I believe that this Thomas was born in Westbury-on-Severn area about 1798 and that his father, also Thomas, later moved to Woolaston.

I have come across a parish record for the marriage of a Thomas Roberts and Sarah Newton in 1798 in the parish of Westbury-on-Severn -both the groom and the bride's residences being shown as 'Out of parish'. I can only think that either the couple had both recently moved to parish, or for some reason their own parish had refused to marry them - any suggestions welcome

Out of Parish means that they lived in an area which did not belong to any parish.

An area which did not belong to any parish was referred to as an Extra-Parochial Place.

In 1842 the main part of the extra-parochial area of the Forest of Dean was divided for poor-law act purposes into two townships of East Dean and West Dean

Hi David

Thanks for your help.