Age on certificate

[Sunshinejack]

Hi there,
I hope its ok to post this here.
I finally received one of my marriage cert's yesterday for my Barlow family but for the first time I noticed that in the age block it just says "full".
What exactly does this mean? That they were of age to be married but noone wanted to put their age down??
Just curious. I havent come across this before.

[casalguidi]

Hi Jack

Yes, it means that they were (or supposedly) over 21 thus not needing the consent of parents to marry

Casalguidi

[behindthefrogs]

According to the instructions for filling out marriage certificates, the words "of full age" should may be entered if they are age 21 (now 18) or over.  To have an age over 21 on the certificate means that it was filled in incorrectly.  Similarly someone of under 21 may be entered as  "minor"

Sorry I should check my facts instead of working from memory.

David

[stanmapstone]

As far as the GRO was concerned the age of the parties was of great statistical importance, in order that the gross numbers of both sexes marrying at different ages could be ascertainable for each year.
The precise age of each of the parties, at his of her last birthday, was supposed to be inserted whenever they could be ascertained, but if either of the parties was unable or unwilling to state his or her precise age the words "of full age" i.e. over 21, or "minor" or the aproximate age could be recorded.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Just to be clear I'm referring to the 19th and early 20th centuries not what is the practice today 

Stan

[Necromancer]

strictly speaking - of full age means 21 and over


Not over 21.


I have seen manyy Certs where an exact age is shown, so I dont see why that is incorrect ..... 

[stanmapstone]

If they were 21 years of age at their last birthday then they are over 21 years of age  21 years and 1 day is over 21, or is it not 

Stan

[Necromancer]

it is indeed. 

But I think you'll find that most people will regard being 'over 21' as 22 onward and upward etc.

Pedantry seems to be catching sometimes

 

[Sunshinejack]

Thank you everyone for all your insight.