Full age

[wrinkly]

Does anyone know what the "full age" was for males for marriage in the 19th and early 20th century? Was it 21 or younger?

[Alan Welsford]

"Full age" means they were 21 or over, (or at least claiming to be!).

Alan

[uksearch]

Does anyone know what the "full age" was for males for marriage in the 19th and early 20th century? Was it 21 or younger?

Full age at this time, meant 21 years or older be they males or females. With parental consent younger persons could legally marry.This has little to do with the age minors i.e under 21 could get married. You might be shocked:D.

If you search the archives on this system, it has been fully explained.

|cheers|

UK

[wrinkly]

"Full age" means they were 21 or over, (or at least claiming to be!).

Alan

Thanks Alan - I think BG is great even if some don't! So - this means that a male under 21 wishing to marry needed parental consent.. right? Yes must be...

Thanks again - thought it was but wanted to double check cos it was before my time.........

Bye Wrinky

[wrinkly]

Full age at this time, meant 21 years or older be they males or females. With parental consent younger persons could legally marry.This has little to do with the age minors i.e under 21 could get married. You might be shocked:D.

If you search the archives on this system, it has been fully explained.

|cheers|

UK



Thanks for that - I will try to find the archives..... cos am full of curiosity as to why I might be shocked!!!!!

[MarkJ]

Thanks Alan - I think BG is great even if some don't! So - this means that a male under 21 wishing to marry needed parental consent.. right? Yes must be...

Thanks again - thought it was but wanted to double check cos it was before my time.........

Bye Wrinky

Theoretically yes, but in some cases the prospective bride and groom married in another parish and told a bit of a porkie to get married regardless of their parents wishes if they were not 21 years of age.

Mark

[Tederator]

Theoretically yes, but in some cases the prospective bride and groom married in another parish and told a bit of a porkie to get married regardless of their parents wishes if they were not 21 years of age.

Mark

I've had a bit of a thought about this myself, my Great Grandmother born in 1851 and married in 1867, making her 16 years of age, according to records, married to a man over twice her age,about 35 years of age I think.
Their marriage certificate shows the he was 'of full age' and that my Great Grand Mother was stated to be a 'minor', makes you wonder does it not.

Cheers

Ted.

[Guy Etchells]

They would only require consent between 1754 and 1823 when the clause in the 1753 Act (Lord Hardwicke's Act) was repealed.
Cheers
Guy

[MythicalMarian]

I've had a bit of a thought about this myself, my Great Grandmother born in 1851 and married in 1867, making her 16 years of age, according to records, married to a man over twice her age,about 35 years of age I think.
Their marriage certificate shows the he was 'of full age' and that my Great Grand Mother was stated to be a 'minor', makes you wonder does it not.

Cheers

Ted.

Yes, I have great great grandparents who were 20 (groom) and 15 (bride) at their marriage in 1841. Bride was stated to be a minor, and groom 'of full age', although he wasn't quite. Bride's father was a mariner so may have been at sea, but they married in the town where both their families were living.

[wrinkly]

re full age - thank you all so very much. How did you all get to be so smart?|book2|

[Tederator]

my Great Grandmother born in 1851 and married in 1867, making her 16 years of age,
Cheers
Ted.


I would like to correct the above statement I made in my last post here, I have since found out that she was born in 1848, so that made her 19 years of age when she married. The rest of the post still applies though. I have at last found the index for my Great Grandmother's birth certificate which is now on order, I look forward to its arrival.

Cheers

Ted.