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Full Age

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Caroline

Caroline Report 13 Jan 2004 12:02

When it says "full" on the age part of a marriage certificate did they mean 18 or 21?

Trish

Trish Report 13 Jan 2004 13:07

Caroline, it was 21.

Paul

Paul Report 13 Jan 2004 13:26

To an extent it did mean over the age of majority, but don't forget that the age of consent was lower back in the past. That plus the fact that one, or both, of the parties may have been "untruthful" about their age, or the writer did not remember the ages, can lead to confusion. Paul

Chris

Chris Report 13 Jan 2004 13:33

Iv got one of these and was told by the register office that it was over 21 Christine

BobClayton

BobClayton Report 13 Jan 2004 14:07

Prior to 1929 boys could marry at 14 and girls 12 with their parents consent if they were under 21 (18 from 1969) Of full age usually meant over 21 but rarely it could mean over 12 or 14 (genuki). Bob

Researching:
Clayton

Linda & Tim

Linda & Tim Report 13 Jan 2004 22:57

If only our ancestors, and their accomplices, had realised how annoying and frustrating we would find their evasiveness and occasional downright lies!!!

Kim

Kim Report 14 Jan 2004 08:12

I have a marriage certificate where both parties are described as full age. She was 21 but he was 39! So much for accuracy. KIM

Caroline

Caroline Report 14 Jan 2004 14:09

Thanks all for your replies.