Genealogy Chat

At what age could you marry in 1879. My G G Grandmother states 'minor' as age on her marriage certificate. From census records she was born c1862, which would have made her 17, but the only Emma Haskew I can find at the moment was born qtr 1864? If this is the right one she would only have been 15?

Girls could marry from 12 and boys from 14 until 1929. nell

The Emma Haskew b. 1864 may not be the same as the one on the census. Were they both born in the same area? nell

The census records show her POB as St Pancras and Somers Town, which I am sure are roughly the same place. The birth details I have found are in Clerkenwell

I take it that this is the birth you've found: HASKEW, Emma Louisa Record Type: Births Quarter: March Year: 1864 District: Clerkenwell County: London Middlesex Volume: 1b Page: 619 Has the marriage you've found also got Louisa as a middle name? nell

I can't find an Emma Haskew of any age in 1871 census, born in London or Middlesex. nell

But I've found this person, whose info co-incides with the birth you found: Dariel Abbott abt 1807 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Head St Pancras London Jane Abbott abt 1808 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Wife St Pancras London ****Emma Askew abt 1864 Islington, Middlesex, England Granddaughter St Pancras London Jane Burbridge abt 1828 Southwark, Surrey, England Daughter St Pancras London Jane Burbridge abt 1858 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Granddaughter St Pancras London RG10/227 Folio: 69 Page: 42 Registration district: Pancras Sub-registration district: Somers Town nell

I think I have found her in 1871 as Emma Askew b. 1864 Islington, grandaughter living in St Pancras Yes that is the birth reg I found

I am sure the young lady in 1871 must be the same. I will just have to send for the birth cert, I have her fathers name from her marriage cert so I can ask for a reference check. My next query is though, her husband Henry Bentley does not list as his father on the marriage cert who I expected it to be.

Who did you expect his father to be? Normally, I think its a good idea to work backwards, ie from death to marriage to birth, rather than jump from birth to marriage, unless you already have some certs from your family. On the other hand, sometimes names are mixed up - my husband's Jewish gt gt grandfather was called Zusman [and he has the most incredible number of variants!] Hart, but I had his father as Zalig Hart on his marriage cert. I found a birth, right year and quarter, right reg. district for Zusman Hart and thought it must be him and was puzzled when I got the cert and his father's name was Solomon! However, I subsequently found a death cert for Solomon Zalig Hart at the right age and in the right address, so all was explained! nell

Using census records : My gg grandfather is Henry Bentley, (he married Emma Haskew) this is the info I've got 1881 - Henry Bentley b1856 St Pancras Head Emma Bentley b1862 St Pancras Wife Eliza Bentley b1880 St Pancras Daughter Emma and Henry married in 1879 In 1871, the only Henry Bentley I could find that appears to fit is this one in Clerkenwell Henry Bentley b 1857 Islington Son Errand Boy Henry Bentley b 1832 Croydon Head Tailor Edith Bentley b 1831 Wandsworth Wife Edith Bentley b 1867 St Pancras William Bentley b 1861 Islington I obtained Emma and Henry's marriage certificate to get her fathers name, as the 1871 as her as Askew living with grandparents. On that marriage cert though Henry lists his father as Thomas Bentley. I know that Henry and Emma are definitely mine, again using census records they end up in 1901 at Castle Street as a newsagent. This is a known fact by the family. There is also a family 'feeling' that way back one of the men was Jewish but married out of faith and therefore 'changed' religon. I thought that Henry being a tailor could well fit (is tailoring a 'jewish' profession - don't want to upset anyone reading this, it's just a feeling I had) Thomas Bentley is shown as a decorator on the marriage certificate. I have searched for any Thomas Bentley's on the 1871 living in London, but none seem to have a son Henry. Is it possible that the fathers name was wrongly recorded? Would appreciate any ideas.

Well I never knew they could marry as young as that Helen! Might make research for marriages a bit easier with that in mind.

a) tailoring is a Jewish business. In fact, most trades were full of Jewish and non-conformists and Catholics, because professions often required an oath of allegiance to the Church of England. b) its possible that Thomas and Henry senior were the right person. Perhaps he was called Henry Thomas maybe his father was Henry and he used Thomas as a name to avoid confusion, but called his own son Henry after himself/his father? I don't know how you are going to find out though! Especially if he changed his name. Henry, thomas and Bentley don't sound particularly Jewish to me! nell

thanks Nell I am sure that I have the right family. I am sending for a marriage certificate of one of the daughters to see what that says as fathers name. Hopefully that might help.

To add confusion, I've found this Henry Bentley b. 1856 William Bentley abt 1829 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Head St Pancras London Eliza Bentley abt 1829 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Wife St Pancras London Edward Bentley abt 1858 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son St Pancras London Eliza Bentley abt 1850 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Daughter St Pancras London Mary Bentley abt 1852 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Daughter St Pancras London **** Henry Bentley abt 1856 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son St Pancras London John Bentley abt 1860 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son St Pancras London Frederick Bentley abt 1862 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son St Pancras London Abner Bentley abt 1865 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Son St Pancras London Sarah A Bentley abt 1869 St Pancras, Middlesex, England Daughter St Pancras London ! nell

Now I'm even more confused, although the father is not a Thomas either.

It might be worth remembering that although girls could marry at 12 and boys at 14 (minors), you still needed your parents consent untill you were 21 (full age). I had relatives that married in 1922 both aged 19 but they lied and said they were 21 and that their fathers were both dead. People would bend the truth ot even guess at their age if they were asked as many did not know it.