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Minors on marriage certificates
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Rachel | Report | 19 Apr 2007 20:53 |
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Can anyone help? We have just had a marriage certificate dated 1839 with both the bride and groom having 'minor' instead of their ages. Also there are no details re either of their father's. Has anyone come across a similar situation or does anyone know why this may have been entered in this way? Thanks Rachel |
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Esta | Report | 19 Apr 2007 21:00 |
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The 'Minor ' bit probably means they were under 21 The actual age of the bride and groom may not be listed on a marriage certificate; instead, it may list age as either 'over 21' or 'of full age'. If either male or female was under 21, the age may be recorded as 'minor'. OR What The Marriage Certificate Tells You The marriage certificate probably offers the best boost to research of any document. Not only does it tell you the exact date of the marriage and the full names of the couple, it also includes their ages (however, it might just say 'full,' meaning of age; around 75% of marriages certificates just list 'full' until the early 1850s. If it says 'minor' or 'under age' that means between the ages of 12 and 20 for a girl and 14-20 for a boy, at least until 1929, when the lower age limit for marriage became 16). |
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Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it | Report | 19 Apr 2007 21:03 |
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It was the Norm to record 'ages' then as Minor or Full Age. meant under 21 for Minor or 21 and over for Full Age. changed later about 1850 according to the whim of the priest who did the marraige. I have certs for up to 1880 where still says Minor etc and one for 1852 where the ages are shown. Shirley |
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Researching: |
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KathleenBell | Report | 19 Apr 2007 21:07 |
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If there were no details about either father it probably means that they were both illegitimate. Kath. x |
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An Olde Crone | Report | 19 Apr 2007 21:10 |
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Hmmm....did a baby appear shortly before/after the marriage? Sometimes Workhouses 'encouraged' a couple to marry and may have stood in loco parentis, if both were orphans, or did not know their fathers, etc. Just a thought. OC |
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