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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: McDougalls on Saturday 01 February 25 15:46 GMT (UK)

Title: Marriage Witnesses age
Post by: McDougalls on Saturday 01 February 25 15:46 GMT (UK)

I have a question about ages of marriage witnesses. I have hit a dead end with ancestor and am searching for a person listed as a witness to the persons marriage. The person has the same last name, but that may or may not mean they are related? This marriage record is from 1848 in Ontario Canada, Scottish immigrants recorded as Presbyterian. I located a person with the same name as witness in a 1851 census, but he would have been 13-14yo in 1848. What would a minimum age have been for witnesses to marriages in the mid 1800s? Thanks!  :)

Title: Re: Marriage Witnesses age
Post by: Jebber on Saturday 01 February 25 15:52 GMT (UK)

There was no minimum age for witnesses, they only had to be old enough to understand what they were witnessing.

Title: Re: Marriage Witnesses age
Post by: McDougalls on Sunday 02 February 25 04:39 GMT (UK)

Thank you!

Title: Re: Marriage Witnesses age
Post by: Wexflyer on Sunday 02 February 25 04:47 GMT (UK)

Quote from: Jebber on Saturday 01 February 25 15:52 GMT (UK)

There was no minimum age for witnesses, they only had to be old enough to understand what they were witnessing.

Well, not quite. Seven was the legal age of reason. So under 7 could not be a witness under any circumstance. Seven to 14 was a grey area. Over 14 reason was assumed. Conclusion - wise to use someone 14 or over.