Author Topic: Legal marriage age 1767  (Read 765 times)

Offline goldie61

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 4,496
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #9 on: Monday 10 August 20 05:55 BST (UK) »

I do have the first husband’s will. It is 9 pages of extremely cramped writing and illegible in spots. Will have to tackle it in hopes of some insight.

Judy

If you need help, there's a specific board here on Rootschat for such assistance if you've not seen it:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/handwriting-deciphering-recognition/

It's been pretty quiet on there recently, so there would be lots of people only too happy to try and help you out!  :)
Lane, Burgess: Cheshire. Finney, Rogers, Gilman:Derbys
Cochran, Nicol, Paton, Bruce:Scotland. Bertolle:London
Bainbridge, Christman, Jeffs: Staffs

Offline Guy Etchells

  • Deceased † Rest In Peace
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 4,632
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #10 on: Monday 10 August 20 07:10 BST (UK) »
Although marriage was legal at 12 for girls you still needed parental consent under 21 years of age after the 1753 marriage act;  No marriage of a person under the age of 21 was valid without the consent of parents or guardians. Clergymen who disobeyed the law were liable for 14 years transportation.

There seems to be some confusion about getting married without consent, possibly caused by the different rules between marriages after banns and marriages by licence.

First it is and always has been perfectly legal to marry after banns without parent's or guardian's consent “unless such Parson, Minister, Vicar or Curate shall have Notice of the Dissent of such Parents or Guardians; and in case such Parents or Guardians, or one of them, shall openly and publickly declare, or cause to be declared in the Church or Chapel where the Banns shall be so published, at the Time of such Publication, his, her or their Dissent to such Marriages such Publication of Banns shall be absolutely void.” (An Act for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages. [1753.] Section III).

Alternatively All Marriages by Licence require the consent of the Father or if he be dead the guardian or if there is no guardian the mother of the minor, unless the minor is a widow or widower. (Above Act section XI).

The above law requiring consent by licence lasted for about 70 years but I do not have the precise details to hand at present, but I think it was repealed in 1823.
Cheers
Guy
http://anguline.co.uk/Framland/index.htm   The site that gives you facts not promises!
http://burial-inscriptions.co.uk Tombstones & Monumental Inscriptions.

As we have gained from the past, we owe the future a debt, which we pay by sharing today.

Offline youngtug

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 4,302
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #11 on: Monday 10 August 20 11:48 BST (UK) »
III. Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Parson, Minister, Vicar or Curate solemnizing Marriages after the twenty-fifth Day of March one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four, between Persons, both or one of whom shall be under the Age of twenty-one Years, after Banns published, shall be punishable by Ecclesiastical Censures for solemnizing such Marriages without Consent of Parents or Guardians, whose Consent is required by Law, unless such Parson, Minister, Vicar or Curate shall have Notice of the Dissent of such Parents or Guardians; and in case such Parents or Guardians, or one of them, shall openly and publickly declare, or cause to be declared in the Church or Chapel where the Banns shall be so published, at the Time of such Publication, his, her or their Dissent to such Marriages such Publication of Banns shall be absolutely void.


http://statutes.org.uk/site/the-statutes/eighteenth-century/1753-26-geo-2-c-33-prevention-of-clandestine-marriages/
.http://www.rootschat.com/links/05q2/   
  WILSON;-Wiltshire.
 SOUL;-Gloucestershire.
 SANSUM;-Berkshire-Wiltshire
 BASSON-BASTON;- Berkshire,- Oxfordshire.
 BRIDGES;- Wiltshire.
 DOWDESWELL;-Wiltshire,Gloucestershire
 JORDAN;- Berkshire.
 COX;- Berkshire.
 GOUDY;- Suffolk.
 CHATFIELD;-Sussex-- London
 MORGAN;-Blaenavon-Abersychan
 FISHER;- Berkshire.
 BLOMFIELD-BLOOMFIELD-BLUMFIELD;-Suffolk.
DOVE. Essex-London
YOUNG-Berkshire
ARDEN.
PINEGAR-COLLIER-HUGHES-JEFFERIES-HUNT-MOSS-FRY

Offline markheal

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 611
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #12 on: Monday 10 August 20 12:10 BST (UK) »
How was/is 'CONSENT' recorded or evidenced please?
ANSTRUTHER,Worldwide
BENNETT,
BRETT, Sligo
CARNEGIE,
CROCKFORD, Hampshire.
ELLIOT,
GAUNTLETT, Worldwide
HEAL, HEALE, HELE, Chew Magna, Somerset
HENRY, Sligo
MABEY, Dorset
O'HANLON
POPE, London docklands,
STANDERWICK, Somerset,
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline majm

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,385
  • NSW 1806 Bowman Flag Ecce signum.
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #13 on: Monday 10 August 20 12:25 BST (UK) »
From the opening post we were informed that it was a marriage by licence with consent of the parents  in 1767, so not by banns, but by licence.

Thus, as one of the party to the proposed marriage was not yet of full age, she was not yet old enough to put her signature to that 'contract' without a responsible person to consent on her behalf.   

Under 21 years of age in 1767 .... not yet of full age, so not yet old enough to enter into a contract.  If Banns had been called, she would not have needed parental consent.

Her husband died 43 days after marriage.

A likely reason for the licence could be that it was already known that he was ill, so a hasty marriage was arranged as part of a succession plan which should lead to checking out the Will....

JM

The information in my posts is provided for academic and non-commercial research purposes. 
Random Acts of Kindness Given Freely are never Worthless for they are Priceless.
Qui scit et non docet.    Qui docet et non vivit.    Qui nescit et non interrogat.   
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
I do not have a face book or a twitter account.

Offline bradburyd

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 115
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #14 on: Monday 10 August 20 16:26 BST (UK) »
My grandmother was born 13 Aug 1884, and married in Jun 1900 a man born in 1838, so she was 15 and he was 62.
It would appear that he decided to marry her to avoid being locked up for a very long time for what would seem to be rape!

Offline Canadian Goose

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 50
    • View Profile
Re: Legal marriage age 1767
« Reply #15 on: Monday 10 August 20 23:07 BST (UK) »
Thank you all for your responses, I have learned a great deal.

Putting together all my notes may have given me an answer. The groom’s mother had given land earlier for the building of a non conformist chapel. The bride’s father was the assistant Rev in that chapel some years later. From an article by Stephen Tuck, the bride’s father was “remarkable for eccentricity” and led a secession from this chapel. Thinking this may have been the connection. Will definitely need to transcribe the will.

What a web this turned out to be when looking for a birthdate.

Thank you all again for your help.

Judy