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Age of 'minors' please

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Sylvie

Sylvie Report 29 Oct 2003 16:28

I have a marriage certificate from 1854. Both bride and groom are 'Minors'. Can anyone tell me what that meant in 1854 Thanks Sylvie

Researching:
Brown. Paddington, Marylebone, Westminster Middlesex

Penny

Penny Report 29 Oct 2003 16:31

I understand it to mean under 21 which at this time could be as young as 12 for girls (with consent) and 14 for boys (with consent) Penny

Sylvie

Sylvie Report 29 Oct 2003 16:35

Hello Penny Thank you for your prompt answer! I have a marriage in 1854 of two 'minors' who on the 1861 are listed as Henry aged 25 and MAry aged 27. The eldest child is 14 - I think your reply makes that JUST possible - or does it?! Thanks again Sylvie

Researching:
Brown. Paddington, Marylebone, Westminster Middlesex

Sandra

Sandra Report 29 Oct 2003 18:21

I see from today's papers that a 12 year old schoolgirl has given birth but is refusing to name the father of her baby. If this goes on in 2003, who knows what went on in past generations

Penny

Penny Report 29 Oct 2003 18:59

Hi Sylvie just trying to work out your ages so do you mean Henry must have been 18 when married, Mary 20 (in 1854) and in 1861 their eldest child was 14?? So their eldest child couldnt have been Henry's, sorry getting a bit confused. Penny

Ellen

Ellen Report 29 Oct 2003 20:40

Reading through the Oldswinford marriage banns I came across one that had been forbidden by his mother because he was only aged nine!!! Didnt the vicar notice he looked a bit young? His intended wifes age was not mentioned.

Penny

Penny Report 29 Oct 2003 20:43

Wow my 9 year old dosnt even like girls! Penny

Sylvie

Sylvie Report 29 Oct 2003 22:18

Hello Penny and all On the 1861 census I have Henry clearly as 25 and Mary as 27, Thier marriage was in 1854, that means Henry was 18 and Mary was 20 when they married. The eldest child is down as 14 on the same 1861 census which would make Henry 11 and Mary 13 when she was born! It is a very clear 14......but The next children are 3,2 and 1! The interesting thing is that on the 71 census Henry and MAry are 34 and 36 but by the 81 census they are 41 and 43! All I want to do is find a year of birth so that I can get certificates ! unfortunately Henry is a Brown so I need to be fairly precise about the year of birth i'd be grateful for any thoughts on this one - a new perpective? Thanks Sylvie

Researching:
Brown. Paddington, Marylebone, Westminster Middlesex

Kathleen

Kathleen Report 29 Oct 2003 23:01

It is possible that the 14 should be 4, if you are looking at the original perhaps an extra stroke of the pen? If a transcribed entry then possibly a transcribers error. The difference in the parents ages is more difficult as the census for these years were taken on 7th April, 2nd April and 3rd April respectively. The simple explanation is that they lied about their ages in the later censuses. Kathleen