Genealogy Chat

Today i recieved a marraige cert for one of my ancestors and his age was given as 'full age'.What age is that? thanks Sue

Hi Susan, I think full age is over 21 June

I have had that too on some certs and assumed it to mean 'over 21'... but I may be wrong. Maureen

Thanks Sue

It does mean over 21 as 21 was the age when you could marry without parents consent. Minor means under 21. Margaret

I think that it was meant to be over 21 but I have a couple of cases where the certificate says 'full age' but I know the person was a lot younger, only 16 or 17. In both cases the husband was a lot older so maybe they did not want the age gap to be so obvious? So don't assume the age from the certificate. Christine in NZ

Its funny you should say that about the age and needing parents consent,as the father is missing off the marraige cert. Maybe he wasnt of full age then. Sue

If there is no father's name on the marriage cert, that would usually imply the person was illegitimate. People often said they were 21 (or the more subtle ones would say 22 or 23) in order to avoid the parental consent issue - not necessarily because the parents objected, but just to save the hassle! Merry

Hi Merry, Maybe thats why i cant find him in the census for 1841.... Cant confirm his birth date either. Have come to a grinding halt.. Sue

Is it usual for a marraige cert not to have the name of the church on it, All mine has is ..marraige solemized after the banns in the parish of Tofts Monk? sue

I think you mean Toft Monks (Norfolk)!! No, parishes with only one C of E church don't usually put the name of the church on the certs. The church is dedicated to St Margaret. See http://www.norfolkchurches(.)co.uk/toftmonks/toftmonks.htm for a photo. Merry

When was the marriage? Merry

Merry, I didnt relize that,.....have seen the web site . Any suggestions as to were i go from here in trying to find my elusive illagitimate relative? Only have his birth details and place of birth from what the census tells me .. Sue

The marraige was on the 14th january 1851. Sue

So, have you found him on the 1851 census?? If not, what's his details (name and occupation if that's all you have) and those of his wife?? (hope he isn't john Smith!!) Merry

His name is John Smith.....only joking..lol His name is John Rackham and he is living with his wife Mary anne Rackham(nee Godbolt) They are staying with Robert and Rhoda Godbolt who i presume are Mary annes parents as her fathers name is Robert Godbolt. They are living in Tofts Monk. Sue

Is there anyway of checking a birth from 1828 to get the gro numbers to order a cert?

No, because civil registration didn't begin until 1837!! You would need to track down the parish registers for Oulton, where he was born, to look for his baptism.......they would be at the Suffolk County record office, or if you live near an LDS Family History centre, they could order out the parish register film for you (costs about £3) Merry

I tried this (excellent) site http://www.genealogy.doun.org/transcriptions/index.php but couldn't find anything relevant - but t's not my search, so may not have been determined enough. Christine

Merry, Dont live anywhere near a Family history centre unfortunatly, i live in Scotland which could be a million miles away from Suffolk at the moment..lol We might get down that way next year though so i will have to wait untill then to visit the records office or wait untill somebody puts up a thread willing to do searches there. Sue