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Author Topic: Age at Marriage Act  (Read 3482 times)

Offline Kelly Hughes

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Age at Marriage Act
« on: Thursday 26 March 20 14:49 GMT (UK) »
In 1850 in England, I came across few with MINOR on marriage banns.  Legal age for males was 14..any further feedback?

Offline Craclyn

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:08 GMT (UK) »
The age of majority at that time was 21. Below that age they would need parental consent to marry.
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Offline Kelly Hughes

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:11 GMT (UK) »
I read in 1850 it was 14 and other places 16...in England and Wales.  It increased in later years.

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:24 GMT (UK) »
The legal age for marriage was 12 for girls and 14 for boys until the 1929 Age of Marriage Act which made all marriages carried out from 10 May 1929, void if either partner was under the age of 16. The legal age for marriage remained at 14 for boys and 12 for girls in the Republic of Ireland, until 1st January 1975, when it was raised to 16.
See https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=431156.msg2957783#msg2957783
Stan
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Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:31 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: Craclyn on Thursday 26 March 20 15:08 GMT (UK)
The age of majority at that time was 21. Below that age they would need parental consent to marry.

 A marriage after banns was valid even if they were under the age of 21, if no objection had been raised during the publication of the banns.

Stan
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Offline Kelly Hughes

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:37 GMT (UK) »
So if you had Minor as my relative did, on his marriage bann in 1848 and being male he would be under 14, so that pinpoints his actual age more so. Thanks for the research.

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:39 GMT (UK) »
No, Minor means under 21.

Stan
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Offline Kelly Hughes

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:41 GMT (UK) »
My question is why not see MINOR on most banns then as most of my relatives for sure, married very young.
It was the only one I saw with minor!  Interesting.

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Age at Marriage Act
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 26 March 20 15:44 GMT (UK) »
Quote from: Kelly Hughes on Thursday 26 March 20 15:41 GMT (UK)
My question is why not see MINOR on most banns then as most of my relatives for sure, married very young.


How do you know most of your relatives married very young?

Stan
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