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Age at time of marriage

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Jane

Jane Report 12 Sep 2022 09:36

Hi

How old would a person have to be to get married in 1745?

Thanks

Jane

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 12 Sep 2022 10:14

Having Googled it it seems to be about 12.

The Hardwicke marriage act came in in 1754 where persons under the age of 21 had to have parents consent.

Jane

Jane Report 12 Sep 2022 10:36

Wow that is young.


Thanks for your help

Jane

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 12 Sep 2022 10:43

The age for marriage in England and Wales was 12 for a female and 14 for a male (with parental consent) right up until 1927 - although few married at that age.

Kath. x

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 12 Sep 2022 11:17

The same ages applied in Scotland at that time, without parental consent .
and continued to be so until 1929, since when both parties have had to be 16.

Elopements from England to Gretna Green started after the English Hardwicke Act was passed in 1753.

In 1856 the law in Scotland was changed to require 21 days' residence in Scotland before marriage, which meant elopement became less popular.
That requirement was lifted in 1977.

Researching:
Old genealogists never die.....they just lose their census.

Jane

Jane Report 12 Sep 2022 11:24

Thanks for that information. It's quite interesting learning about life in those days.

All the best

Jane

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 12 Sep 2022 11:47

King David II married at age 4 in the 1300’s. Now that IS young.

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 13 Sep 2022 16:26

My grt x 3 was 14 + when she married in 1880

Her elder sister wasx15 :-)

Researching:
Surname Fahse. Germany. Essex .South East London My avatar is one of our wedding photos of 1957