Any thoughts welcome

[cold ethyl]

can anyone tell me if apprentices were allowed to marry in the early 19th century while serving their apprenticeships? My ggg grandfather was born in 1830 and christened with his father's surname, Emmerson although he was born of a single woman Elizabeth Reed in North Shields.. she was baptised 1811 and George Emmerson senior was baptised in 1809.. I have found their marriage in 1834 in Wallsend when she was 23 and he was 25 so am at a lost as to why there was so long a delay between their first child and a marriage. George was a stone mason and I wonder if he was apprenticed and unable to marry, though this tradition may well have died out much earlier than this date?
Any thoughts welcome.
Ethyl x

[stanmapstone]

The terms of many apprenticeships forbade marriage, and most males and females under 21 had to forfeit their apprenticeships if they got married. Apprenticeships were for seven years, and usually began at ten to fifteen years of age.
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,440923.msg3041326.html#msg3041326

Stan

[cold ethyl]

The terms of many apprenticeships forbade marriage, and most males and females under 21 had to forfeit their apprenticeships if they got married. Apprenticeships were for seven years, and usually began at ten to fifteen years of age.
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,440923.msg3041326.html#msg3041326

Stan

thanks for that...still a few years adrift but it's my best guess so far.