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Question; Marriages 1700-1800 -before age of 21 yr

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Margaretfinch

Margaretfinch Report 22 Oct 2011 14:22

I just got a marriage record from 1803 and along with came a consent form by the girls father
Margaret

Researching:
Finch Weathersfield Essex. Poole Haverhill Suffolk.GoodchildSouth Ascot BerkshireFry Wilton Wiltshire Goddard Laverstock Wiltshire Grayston Suffolk

mgnv

mgnv Report 22 Oct 2011 13:55

Jan is not correct abt consent of parents. This was not then, nor is now, a requirement for marrs of minors in the UK, just in England, Wales and Ireland.

alan2938

alan2938 Report 21 Oct 2011 09:06

brummiejan

Thanks, very interesting!

brummiejan

brummiejan Report 21 Oct 2011 09:04

I did google this, and found this site:

http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/relationships/overview/lawofmarriage-/

Where it says:

Until the middle of the 18th century marriages could take place anywhere provided they were conducted before an ordained clergyman of the Church of England. This encouraged the practice of secret marriages which did not have parental consent and which were often bigamous.'

And:

'No marriage of a person under the age of 21 was valid without the consent of parents or guardians.'

Always worth googling for info like this!

Jan

Researching:
Myatt, Hanks, Eccleston, Powell, Clungunford, Birmingham

alan2938

alan2938 Report 21 Oct 2011 09:00

Thanks, Jan for the information

brummiejan

brummiejan Report 21 Oct 2011 08:57

Marriage age for girls was 12 and boys 14, up till 1929 I believe. I think parental consent was needed but not sure before what age back then.
Jan

Researching:
Myatt, Hanks, Eccleston, Powell, Clungunford, Birmingham

alan2938

alan2938 Report 21 Oct 2011 08:50

Marriages in the UK between 1700 - 1800, was there an age of consent, i.e.

21 years, or could marriages take place between couples say between 16 to

20 years of age?

Were there any rules regulations about these marriages?