Possible under age marriage

[Peety]

I have my wife’s 5 x great grandfather as James Wheate baptised 28th April 1820, Gainsborough , Lincolnshire.
With siblings:
John baptised 15th June 1822, father, ships carpenter
Benjamin baptised January 19th 1825, father, ship’s carpenter
Fanny baptised February 26th 1831, father, ships carpenter
William baptised 23rd August 1834, father, ships carpenter
George baptised 17th September 1836, father, ships carpenter
The problem arises when going back a further generation:
I have their parents as James Wheate 1789-1841 and Elizabeth Boys 1797-1862 and a marriage of 16th November 1812, Gainsborough
This would make Elizabeth just 15 years old at time of marriage and not having her first child until 1820 when she was 23!! Is this feasible/legal or have I gone wrong ?

[Jebber]

With parental consent, girls could marry at 12 and boys at 14.

I should have added the age was not raised to 16 until 1929.

[amondg]

Mary Wheate daughter of James and Elizabeth bap 20 November 1813 of  Beast Market father ship's carpenter    ----  buried 23 September 1820 age 6  address was Cash Gate Street for her burial.
---------------------
William Wheate bap 4 April 1818 abode Beast Market at Gainsborough parents James and Elizabeth
father ship's carpenter   ---  He was buried 1 August 1830 age 13.

Transcription and images on Find My Past

[amondg]

Son Benjamin was buried 25 November 1817 age 2  address Bridge Street.

[amondg]

I'm sure you have noticed that her son James Wheate (1821) is in Hull Yorkshire in 1861

His mother Elizabeth 64 is with him - mother written and crossed out replaced with visitor

Also lodging there is a Charles Boyes 39 and William Boyes 43 in the same household, both born Gainsborough Lincolnshire
--------------------------
BOYES
Elizabeth was bap. 2 June 1797 of Robert and Sarah Boyes  in the Work House
Robert  her brother age 2 1/2 bap. 24 June 1797 in the Work House.

Charles bap 1 June 1822 of Robert and Ann Boyes
William bap 27 March 1818 of Robert and Ann Boyes.

I cannot find the marriage(s) of Robert but if Sarah died and he married Ann  then Charles and William Boyes are her younger brothers - same father different mother.

[amondg]

You are also missing:

Thomas Wheat bap. 17 November 1827 abode Beast market of James and Elizabeth.
father ship's carpenter

[amondg]

Do you have these
Lincoln Chronicle 30 April 1841 - Deaths  22nd age 52 Mr. Jas. Wheate Ship Carpenter

Stamford Mercury 30 July 1830
On Wednesday a boy named Wheat age 13 whilst bathing in the Trent River at Gainsborough unfortunately drowned.  Paraphrased It goes on to say the wet weather where there was usually 5 feet of water there is now 15-18 feet.

This would be James and Elizabeth's son William who was buried 1 August 1830 age 13

[trish1120]

Re these 2;
Charles bap 1 June 1822 of Robert and Ann Boyes
William bap 27 March 1818 of Robert and Ann Boyes.

+ JOHN Boys bapt 06 May 1820, abode Little Church Lane, Father a Ship Carpenter
Little Church Lane is abode on bapt of Charles above also and Father same occp

Could they be the children of Robert born 1797?

Robert BOYES, Widower**, Ships Carpenter, married Elizabeth GROUNDWELL a Spinster 20 May 1827 Gainsborough.

They bapt;
Sarah Ann 1833
Esther Frances 1836
Fanny 1838
(only ones I can see on FreeREG)

1841 in Gainsborough we have;
ROBERT Boyes 40 Ship Carpenter
Elizabeth Boyes 35
JOHN Boyes 26 Ship Carpenter***
Sarah Ann Boyes 5
Fanny Boyes 3
Robert Boyes 8 mths

BOYS, ROBERT mmn   GROUNDWELL 
GRO Reference: 1840  D Quarter in GAINSBOROUGH UNION  Volume 14  Page 299

[trish1120]

ANN Boys buried 2 Mar 1825 age 24, abode Little Church Lane