Author Topic: Too young to marry?  (Read 4136 times)

Offline cimbrio

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 379
  • http://thegenealogycorner.wordpress.com/
    • View Profile
Too young to marry?
« on: Sunday 01 March 15 17:58 GMT (UK) »
I would like other rootschatters' opinion on a conundrum I am facing regarding an ancestor's purported baptism.

According to FamilySearch and Ancestry, Phoebe Shuter was baptised in Bodenham, Herefordshire in 1778, parents Richard and Diana. A boy called Edward was baptised a year after in Pencombe, which is not far from Bodenham. There is a marriage between Richard Shuter and Diana Mayos in Bodenham on 11 August 1776. Given the coincidence in names an the combination of names and surnames, I can only assume these are Phoebe's parents.

Here is where it gets complicated: I thought tracking the baptism of a Diana Mayos would be easy, especially if she was born in Bodenham (which is probably her birthplace since that's where she married). There is only one candidate -at least out of what I have found online): Diana Mayos, daughter of William Mayos and Diana (maiden name unknown), baptised on 18 August 1765. But that would make her eleven years old at the time of her marriage! I have heard of child marriages, but this is after the Marriage Act of 1753 which I would have thought rendered child marriages less common (but not completely impossible?). Advise, please!
Herefordshire: ALLEN (Colwall), CARTWRIGHT (Kington & Almeley), DAVIS (Colwall), EVANS (Pembridge), GODSALL (Colwall), JONES (Whitbourne), MORRIS (Kington & Kinnersley), MOUND (Wormsley), TIPPINS (Staunton-on-Arrow), RODWAY (Colwall), VICKRESS (Wellington & Hope-under-Dinmore), WATKINS (Almeley)
Shropshire: MOUND (Hope Bagot)
Worcestershire: PARKER (Kempsey)

Offline Pejic

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 714
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 01 March 15 18:24 GMT (UK) »
My 2 cents: My rule of thumb is to assume that pre-1800 marriages can be any time after 14 (I've only found a couple outside dynastic marriages), also sometimes (rarely) baptisms (sometimes 2nd baptisms) happen well after birth.
First child is a better indicator of age at marriage.
Richard Wernham (Berkshire 18th century),
William Hissey (1805 to 1813, Hampstead Norris),
Kapirin (Siberia 19th Century),
Kitching 1850,
Mary Howse born 1806 ish,
Chris Truelove marr. John Pocock 2-7-1696, Kintbury, Berks

Offline Galium

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,082
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 01 March 15 18:39 GMT (UK) »
familysearch has a marriage of William Mayo and Diana Moss in Pencombe 21 December 1763.
The couple baptise children at Bodenham from 1765-1772.

Is it possible that it was William's widow who married Richard Shuter?
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline iluleah

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,049
  • Zeya who has a plastic bag fetish
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 01 March 15 18:59 GMT (UK) »
I would agree with Galium on this which is likely and also a baptism doesn't give you a birth date, so she may have been baptised aged 2 yrs, 5 yrs or whatever age.
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend


Offline cimbrio

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 379
  • http://thegenealogycorner.wordpress.com/
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #4 on: Monday 09 March 15 19:41 GMT (UK) »
Thank you all for your input. Very annoying children were not always baptised right after birth like in other countries, but seems promising nonetheless.

Cimbrio
Herefordshire: ALLEN (Colwall), CARTWRIGHT (Kington & Almeley), DAVIS (Colwall), EVANS (Pembridge), GODSALL (Colwall), JONES (Whitbourne), MORRIS (Kington & Kinnersley), MOUND (Wormsley), TIPPINS (Staunton-on-Arrow), RODWAY (Colwall), VICKRESS (Wellington & Hope-under-Dinmore), WATKINS (Almeley)
Shropshire: MOUND (Hope Bagot)
Worcestershire: PARKER (Kempsey)

Online Pheno

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,991
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #5 on: Monday 09 March 15 19:58 GMT (UK) »
I have a case in my tree of a baptism in Hull on 27 March 1815 followed by a marriage on 25 June 1820.  If it were not for the fact that a note in the baptismal entry states born 15 April 1796 I would also have been wondering about being married at age 5 years.

Don't know why no baptism until he was 18 but neither of his two younger brothers were baptised either.  I can only assume that he made the decision on becoming an adult.

So just be wary about birthdate as it could have been a great deal earlier.

Pheno
Austin/Austen - Sussex & London
Bond - Berkshire & London
Bishop - Sussex & Kent
Holland - Essex
Nevitt - Cheshire & Staffordshire
Wray - Yorkshire

Offline susan2122

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 4
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #6 on: Monday 31 October 16 23:26 GMT (UK) »
Diana Moss married William Mayo 21 dec 1763 Pencombe Herefordshire.
They had 6 children including Diana born/christened 18 aug 1765 @ Bodenham.
William died Leominster Dec 1772.
Diana remarried Richard Shuter @ Bodenham 11 aug 1776. They had Phoebe 1778 and Edward 1779.

Offline cimbrio

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 379
  • http://thegenealogycorner.wordpress.com/
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #7 on: Monday 31 October 16 23:36 GMT (UK) »
Thanks Susan! The six children from the first marriage are news to me - do you have further details/sources? Any idea when Diana herself passed away? Are you related in any way?

Phew, sorry about all the questions  ;D
Herefordshire: ALLEN (Colwall), CARTWRIGHT (Kington & Almeley), DAVIS (Colwall), EVANS (Pembridge), GODSALL (Colwall), JONES (Whitbourne), MORRIS (Kington & Kinnersley), MOUND (Wormsley), TIPPINS (Staunton-on-Arrow), RODWAY (Colwall), VICKRESS (Wellington & Hope-under-Dinmore), WATKINS (Almeley)
Shropshire: MOUND (Hope Bagot)
Worcestershire: PARKER (Kempsey)

Offline susan2122

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 4
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Too young to marry?
« Reply #8 on: Friday 04 November 16 02:55 GMT (UK) »
Hi! My husband is descended from Henry Davis...the youngest son of John Davis and Phoebe Shuter. Born Colwall 1821. He was sent to Australia for 10 years in 1844! for burglary.
I am struggling with birth and death dates of Diana, and Richard.
Phoebe's brother, Edward Shuter, christened 23 Dec 1779 In Pencombe Herefordshire is in 1841 census age 56 Ag lab. in Gloucester. He died 1846 in Newent Gloucestershire.

My info is mainly from Find my Past and Family Search.