1921 Marriage

[Sueh2]

Would a couple getting married in the 1920s have needed to show their birth certificates to the vicar or registrar before the ceremony could take place?

[Rosinish]

I wouldn't have thought so in normal circumstances but like everything there's always a possibility if it was thought they weren't old enough?

What is your query re the marriage which others may be able to answer?

Annie

[jorose]

No. There was no requirement to prove age, or any other details. The notice (at the office) or banns (at the church) partially served as a system where people could alert the authorities in the case of underage marriage, bigamy, etc.

Obviously it was not very efficient a system in big busy cities because people did very often adjust age, make up a father's name, adjust occupations to embiggen themselves () and say they were a widow when he'd actually run off with the neighbour to Canada, etc, etc.

[Sueh2]

I realise that it was easy in the 1800s to just state that you were of full age for marriage without having to provide any proof. Also to change your name or marital status was easy once you were outside an area in which you were known was easy since no proof was needed.

I just wondered at what point a bride and groom were required to prove their ages and names. I have a early 1920s marriage, but cannot find the bride’s birth registration despite knowing all about her parents and grandparents and thought that she might have needed her birth certificate to get married.

[louisa maud]

Can you access 1921 census or 1939 registration, this  would  give  you  a  better idea of her birth year, 1939  should  show her  birth  date

Louisa  Maud

[Milliepede]

If you can post her name we can have a look for you. 

[louisa maud]

Good idea, it always  helps

LM

[Rosinish]

Can you access 1921 census or 1939 registration, this  would  give  you  a  better idea of her birth year, 1939  should  show her  birth  date

Louisa  Maud

1921 would give her PoB.

She may have been adopted.

Who did she name as her father on her marriage & his occ?

What was her address on MC?

Witnesses names may also be helpful.

Annie

[Sueh2]

Thanks everyone, I have her date of birth from 1939 and have her in 1911 and 1921.

BUT I cannot find her birth registration……. I am suspicious and don’t want to post her name so as not to cause any offence to living family. The other sibling born 8 years later is registered and baptised which I find odd.

So I was wondering whether she might at any time have needed her birth certificate like when she got married.