Why would a Colyton couple get married in Bethnal Green?

[Arranroots]

Robert wouldn't need to be apprenticed outside his family because his father seems to have been an ironmonger

In the 1841 census you found, the father was a grocer?  Or am I confused?

Agree wholeheartedly that we can't be sure why they were in London without further evidence.

A 

[Burrow Digger]

I thought an ironmonger was like a blacksmith - but apparently not.
Maybe they didnt have or need apprenticeships.

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
  Ironmonger \I"ron*mon`ger\, n.
     A dealer in iron or hardware.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) :
  ironmonger
      n : someone who sells hardware; "in England they call a
          hardwareman an ironmonger" [syn: hardwareman]

Ironmonger  -  dealer in iron goods

Nowadays he would probably be running a Hardware shop.

[Burrow Digger]

As Robert was underage at the time of his marriage he would have needed his father's permission to marry. If he didn't have it marrying far away in London could have been another the reason the couple married 'anonymously' there.

That makes sense. Robert was 20 and Catherine was 22 when they got married.
I should have figured that one out.

BD

[Valda]

The 1841 census as far as I can tell says grocer - it certainly doesn't say ironmonger. Jane is a widow and an annuitant on the 1851 census. Robert's PCC will says ironmonger.

Deaths Jun 1845
MATTHEWS  Robert     Axminster  10 8

PCC will proved 14th August 1845.

An underage marriage without parental permission might make sense but that doesn't make it the correct reason without proof. You would think after the death of his father Robert might have been needed at home to help run his father's business as the eldest son. By 1851 his mother was in Colyton with her youngest son Edwin, then aged 17, a bookseller and stationer.


Regards

Valda