The practice of clandestine marriage, whereby couples married not in compliance with the laws set down either by the church or by statute, became ever more prevalent during the 18th century. Huge numbers of them were carried out in London, especially in the area of the Fleet prison, mostly officiated by ‘ministers’ of a disreputable nature and conducted in disorderly venues such as taverns. At least a dozen such marriages were entered into by residents of Effingham and these are the focus of this article.