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Post by joylea1 on Oct 24, 2006 17:09:14 GMT
Can somebody please clarify what "OF FULL AGE" means on a marriage cert?The cert in question was from 1846. Did the legal age of marriage ever change for example was it ever 18 yrs then moved to 21?Any reply would be most appreciated. Thanks
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Post by llosgi calch on Oct 24, 2006 18:29:35 GMT
Of 'full age' was twenty one years old.
My great grandmother gave 'of full age' on her wedding in 1865, when she was only actually 19 years of age. When I read the certificate it caused confusion, I did some enquiries & learnt that if one was marrying away from their respective parish (as was the case), it was not uncommon for one (or both) of the couple to lie of their age as it could not be proved otherwise. Obviously, being under full age would have meant having parents consent.
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Post by shedevil on Oct 25, 2006 18:00:39 GMT
Can somebody please clarify what "OF FULL AGE" means on a marriage cert?The cert in question was from 1846. Did the legal age of marriage ever change for example was it ever 18 yrs then moved to 21?Any reply would be most appreciated. Thanks The legal age for marriage for both parties was 21 without consent from a parent, the could however marry from the age of 12 for a girl and 14 for a boy right up to 1926 when it was raised to 16 years old but consent still required until the person reached 21 but now age of consent has been lowered to 18 the age of the persons would only be given at the discretion of the Parish Clerk and it wasnt until the later 1800's that they started to give the bride and grooms exact ages on the registers. This link may be of some use to you www.dixons.clara.co.uk/Certificates/marriages.htm#COL3Tracey
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