Roger Newnes-Sarah Ralphes Marriage Document

[wrjones]

Someone kindly sent me an "Intention to marry" document concerning a Roger Newnes and a Sarah Ralphes at Overton Flintshire in 1774.I have a query about there given ages.Roger is given as forty years and upwards.Sarah is given as thirty five years and upwards.

Would this mean Roger would be 40-45 years and also would Sarah be 35-40 years?

Regards
William Russell Jones.

[dragonT]

Hi William,

I had a similar example of an Intention to Marry document dated 17th Nov 1785 - between "Richard Morris of Shotton in the County of Flint.... he is of the age of Thirty Years and upwards" and "Catharine Lamb of Upton in the County of Chester .... aged twenty three years and upwards".
I took this to mean that Richard was between 30 and 31 and Catharine was between 23 and 24 at this time.

I found some confirmation of this from the records of their burials at Connah's Quay- Richard Morris buried 19 Aug 1840 (year of birth given as 1755) and Catharine Morris buried 7 Oct 1836 (year of birth given as 1762). The Northop parish registers record the baptism of a Richard Morris on the 14 Apr 1755.

[wrjones]

Many thanks dragon T for your reply,you have certainly given me food for thought.My problem though is more difficult as Sarah Ralphes is given as a Widow.

Regards
William Russell Jones.