Married at Fifty (Now Completed)

[bykerlads]

autres temps, autres moeurs.

[zetlander]

My grandfather was 47 when he married for the firs time - he waited until his parents had died before marying. His bride, my grandmother was 45 when she married - her first marriage. Within a year they had their only child, a daughter, my mother.

Another family member was born when his father was 71. Don't know the age of his mother.

[renard]

Much younger than these examples I had an ancestor who married when he was 23 his bride was 37 and no it was not a shotgun wedding.

[bykerlads]

I think there must be many cases where a less than the usual love-match was made, simply so that people could live together companionably, with perhaps domestic and financial benefits for both parties.
I can recall 2 examples from the 1950/60's in my immediate neighbourhood:
- a spinster in her 50's married a rather fragile chap of delicate health- both seemed happy with arrangement.
- a lad in his late twenties who had always been very asthmatic and delicate wed a lass of similar age who was rather lame, having a pronounced limp. They did not have children but set up a happy, prosperous household.
There were and are many versions of what a Marriage can be.

[sillgen]

Does anyone have experience in their family history of a bride marrying at 50, the groom being 40 (the fact that the bride was 50 and not the age gap)?  I ask this because I have found what is the possibility of the marriage of a live in partner of my great granddad whose death was in 1910 and this marriage in 1916 to another man.  I have not sent for this marriage certificate as yet as I am still debating whether it is the correct lady or not.

Any experiences welcomed with thanks.

Ewan

We are not exactly helping with the original question here.  Examples of marriages of the older people are interesting but perhaps more practical help about how to solve the query?
Andrea

[Sloe Gin]

But that's exactly what the OP asked for - examples.  We have supplied them.  He is now sufficiently reassured to order the certificate.

[jc26red]

On a practical note, so long as the name isn't that common, then I look to see if there is a death which corresponds to the age of the lady you are looking for under the new name.  If her new husband also dies in the same area then it becomes more of a possibility...

Of course this only works if the name isn't that common.... knowing the names Ewan researches, I'm not sure if this would work

marrying a younger model has its merits 

[Ewan]

A good suggestion jc26red, fortunately the surname this time is I think quite uncommon, but saying that it is quite common on the Isle of Man where this family history relates to.   There is one possible burial for the groom but I don't think it is he because the name is approximately 3 years out, it contains a middle name whereas the groom and his siblings do not appear to have been registered and the chap with the middle name and 3 years out was registered at birth.

The comments on this thread have been very useful and made up my mind about the possibility of a bride marrying someone about 10 years younger than themselves so thank you all for your interest and help.  I have sent off for the certificate now so it is just a wait and see period.

I will continue searching for the bride as I have still not been able to find her on any censuses, if anyone feels they can help with a search please feel free.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,586244.0.html

A Sarah Alice Harris married in 1905 to John Clucas Kennish Isle of Man

Many thanks
Ewan

[Ewan]

As an update, I have now received the certificate and the bride was aged 24 and not as I was hoping in her fifties.

Thanks again for all input.

Ewan