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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Warwickshire => Topic started by: Butterfly on Saturday 07 May 05 23:34 BST (UK)

Title: legal age for marriage
Post by: Butterfly on Saturday 07 May 05 23:34 BST (UK)

This may have been answered here before in another guise but I have not time to trawl the boards, this is something that I haven't encountered before so: I have a marriage where the young lady is stated as a "minor" and the groom as of "full age", no age given for either.  However from other records I have it seems the bride - "the minor" - was only thirteen years of age, can someone tell me if this could be?   The month and year was  September  1843. I'm placing this on this board because the bride came from Coventry, the marriage took place in Islington.

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: JAP on Sunday 08 May 05 02:55 BST (UK)

At that time in England, the legal age for marriage for parental consent was 14 for males and 12 for females.  It will take very little of your time to search this site for previous responses to the question.  Use the excellent 'search rootschat' facility and enter keywords such as
legal age marriage
JAP

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: Butterfly on Sunday 08 May 05 10:22 BST (UK)

Thank you Jap. Very considerate of you to do the work for me!! If I can ever be of help... :)

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: Butterfly on Sunday 08 May 05 12:54 BST (UK)

Further to the above I have been trying to do a rootssearch and it's not working for me!! :( I have cookies enabled so I wonder where I 'm going wrong? ???

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: alllegs on Sunday 08 May 05 13:42 BST (UK)

Hi Butterfly,

I did a search for you for the legal age of marriage on here, click on the link and it should take you to all the messages which discuss the legal age of marriage.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=search2

Good Luck
Love
Legs
xxxx

Ok I have just tried it and it doesn't work - sorry!

Try clicking on the SEARCH ROOTSCHAT button above this and type in 'legal age of marriage' hopefully that will work!!

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: Little Nell on Sunday 08 May 05 15:49 BST (UK)

Hi Butterfly,

This subject has been covered before from a number of angles: what does "of full age"mean?
how old is minor?
legal age for marriage

Here are links to other threads on this subject:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,23080.0.html

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,6680.0.html
"The age at which people could marry was originally fixed at 12 for girls and 14 for boys and stayed at that until..1929 (Age of Marriage Act 1929) when it was amended to 16 for both parties.  Parental consent had to be obtained if either party was under 21 (or 18 when age of consent was lowered to 18)."

Many topics like this are discussed either on the Beginners board or the Common Room.  If nothing else a quick scroll down the list can often be worthwhile - many treasures to be found! ;)

Nell

Title: Re: legal age for marriage
Post by: Butterfly on Monday 09 May 05 11:10 BST (UK)

Thanks folks, you're all very kind.  Still can't get the search rootschat to work though. I must be doing something wrong, I'll have to get my OH to look at it!