Witnesses to Marriages

[t@nya]

Was there a law that prescribed the minimum age a witness to a marriage was allowed to be (such as 16, 18, or 21)?

[Jan1954]

There was no minimum age. All the 1753 Marriage Act required was "two credible witnesses"

It would be up to the person carrying out the marriage to decide if they were credible or not.

[t@nya]

There was no minimum age. All the 1753 Marriage Act required was "two credible witnesses"

It would be up to the person carrying out the marriage to decide if they were credible or not.

I see. Thank you.

[Peter Goodey]

Because the point of witnesses is that if necessary they might eventually have to swear that they saw it happen, the younger the better!. They would just have to be old enough to understand what was going on.

[t@nya]

Because the point of witnesses is that if necessary they might eventually have to swear that they saw it happen, the younger the better!. They would just have to be old enough to understand what was going on.

Really? That seems a bit odd. I would have expected them to be members of good faith in the church or something like that, not just kids.

[Jan1954]

Really? That seems a bit odd. I would have expected them to be members of good faith in the church or something like that, not just kids.

Remember, things happened at a much earlier age back then.

Parental consent was required if either party was under the age of 21. However, the Act also stated that people could marry if the groom was at least 14 years old and the bride was at least 12.

[t@nya]

Remember, things happened at a much earlier age back then.

Parental consent was required if either party was under the age of 21. However, the Act also stated that people could marry if the groom was at least 14 years old and the bride was at least 12.

I'd forgotten that. So, that means that the witness on my ancestor's marriage could be her brother: I've found an IGI baptism that fits (he'd be 15 years old).

[Mutley]

I know your question was regarding children as witnesses but remember the minimum age to marry was much lower (depending on the period you are asking about).

You may find this thread interesting.
Minimum age for Marriage

[t@nya]

You may find this thread interesting.
Minimum age for Marriage

Thank you.