Underage marriage

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

Been doing some research into a branch of my family that came form the Nottingham boarders so have to look at other counties as well.

I came across Mary & Isabell Dennis; Mary Dennis was baptised at Thrumpton 7 Jul 1745 & she married Thomas Bishop with banns at Standford on Soar 2 Feb 1762, (1763), I wasn't sure about the marriage until I noticed Isabell's banns at the same church.

Isabell Dennis was baptised 12 Jul 1755 & married Jammes Ball with banns at Stanford on Soar 27 Jan 1768 (1769). meaning she was only 14.

I cannot be sure of the year of her banns but it looks like it was 1763 (1764) it says according to Act of Parliament & unprohibited by me & signed by the curate.

Was this legal at the time & shouldn't they have been by licence at least.

John

[KGarrad]

There's a decent article on the subject here:
https://www.auswhn.com.au/blog/child-marriage/

[KGarrad]

Also, you might want to research Hardwicke's Marriage Act 1753?
More properly known as The Clandestine Marriages Act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clandestine_Marriages_Act_1753

The relevant sentence:
"Those under the age of 21 had to have parental consent if they married by licence; marriages by banns, by contrast, were valid as long as the parent of the minor did not actually forbid the banns."

[Ayashi]

One of mine was 15 with her husband in his 20s. She gave birth 8 months later. So much no thank you involved from my perspective.

Poor woman had children over the course of 30 years and died young.

[LizzieL]

Isabell Dennis was baptised 12 Jul 1755 & married Jammes Ball with banns at Stanford on Soar 27 Jan 1768 (1769). meaning she was only 14.

I cannot be sure of the year of her banns but it looks like it was 1763 (1764) it says according to Act of Parliament & unprohibited by me & signed by the curate.

Banns Five years before marriage?

[LizzieL]

There's an Isabel Dennis bapt in Stanford on Soar on 5 Oct 1746. Maybe the marriage in 1768 is hers
There is also an Isabel Dennis married in 1781 in Thrumpton to Edward Cross

[Jebber]

With constant girls could marry at 12 and boys at 14  until an act of Parliament raised it to 16 for both in 1929.

[louisa maud]

My gt aunt married before she was 15 to a man of 21 years, no sign of parental permission

LM

[Jebber]

My gt aunt married before she was 15 to a man of 21 years, no sign of parental permission

LM

I have similar marriage with no permission given, it did happen sometimes and the family often accepted it as the deed was done. Of course in more recent times the couple eloped to Gretna Green, in Scotland you could marry at sixteen without consent, just a short residential requirement.

Now in England you have to be 18.