Age of a minor at marraige

[WhiteHunter]

My GrGrGrand parents were married in Clonmel on the 13th August 1849. GrGrGrand father was George MURCH, 'of full age (subsequently proven to be 23 years old) who was a soldier stationed there.  GrGrGrand mother was Mary HICKIE, a minor. Not sure if a daughter of another soldier or a local girl.   The 1861 census gives Mary's age as being 29, so born 1832, implying she was 17 when she married.    As she was in India from 1866 till her death in childbirth in 1870 I can not think of any way of proving her age and subsequently finding a birth certificate or record of  baptism.   What was the age that a person was classed as a minor?

[Ruskie]

Under 21.

[dathai]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Act_1753

[dathai]

For reference the marriage with fathers name
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG63-WZG

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTBR-BMW

remember the name can be spelled either way HICKIE OR HICKEY
Griffiths Valuations has a few Matthew Hickey's in Tipperary
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

[jfrancis8912]

'of full age (subsequently proven to be 23 years old) who was a soldier stationed there.

Full age is a very simple term to represent a person being over 21 years, the age you didn't need consent to marry.   

What was the age that a person was classed as a minor?

A person classed as a minor admitted to being under 21 years, therefore his/her parents would be questioned if they gave consent to this marriage. People under 21 who said they were of full age had no consent to marry normally.

[WhiteHunter]

Many thanks to ALL who replied to my post.   I am now onto another quest that once I get stuck, and I bet I will I'll be back for more help!!!

[Wexflyer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Act_1753

This Act has nothing to do with Ireland.

[Ruskie]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Act_1753

This Act has nothing to do with Ireland.

Would you be able to supply a link to the Act which does, assuming there is one?

It may assist others.

[Wexflyer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Act_1753

This Act has nothing to do with Ireland.

Would you be able to supply a link to the Act which does, assuming there is one?

It may assist others.

There is no Irish equivalent to that English Act. Marriage law was originally entirely cannon/common law. In Ireland, statute law only started to concern itself with marriage as part of the overall penal law scheme. The last part of the penal law regime with regard to marriages lasted until the 1870s or 80s. I believe the first relatively general law with regard to Irish marriages was the Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844.