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What age to marry ?

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Kathleen

Kathleen Report 27 Aug 2003 10:32

I know this has probably been asked before but I cant find it.What was the age to marry in 1877? just got gggranparents marriage cert today groom it says full,(he was just 20),bride it says minor so presume she needed consent of parents,would she have to be at least 16?.I have varying ages for her on any census returns Thanks Kathleen

*ღ*Dee in Bexleyheath*ღ*

*ღ*Dee in Bexleyheath*ღ* Report 27 Aug 2003 11:00

Hi Kathleen. According to my little family tree book: "Asserted ages can be misleading. Until raised to 16 in 1929, twelve was the minimum age at which a girl could marry. Fourteen for a boy. Up to 1969 when it was lowered to 18, parental consent was necessary until 21, and a certificate may thus only record a party was 'of full age' or a minor. An underage couple marrying against parents wishes might add on a few years, conversely, where there was a significant disparity in age, one might be increased or the other reduced to bring them closer together". Dierdre X

Kathleen

Kathleen Report 27 Aug 2003 11:45

Thanks very much,Deidre really appreciate that Kathleen,ps will make a note of it incase I forget

Melba64

Melba64 Report 27 Aug 2003 21:11

Don't know if this will help but I recently acquired a marriage certificate for my gr gr grandparents marriage in 1863. He was of full age and she was a minor. From my research I have worked out that she was 20 and he was about 2 yrs older. Melanie Jones

Kathleen

Kathleen Report 27 Aug 2003 21:30

Thanks Melanie,I have grooms birth cert and he is only just twenty on wedding day he may have told porkies and said he was twenty one.On one cenus they both have same age! and his is wrong there according to birth cert,will try searching for brides birth cert,problem is she was born Ireland and not certain where exactly.Regards Kathleen