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Would 14 year old marry in 1841?

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RStar

RStar Report 7 Sep 2007 14:36

According to someone who Im in contact with re my sons family tree, a girl aged 14 married a 30 year old man and had a baby the same year. Would this be likely? Im unsure (as yet) his source of info. Thankyou.

Julie

Julie Report 7 Sep 2007 14:37

RS

Girls were as young as 12

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 7 Sep 2007 14:38

I would say yes, very likely.
Marg

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 7 Sep 2007 14:38

Yes......the legal age for girls was 12.......14 for boys

Reg

RStar

RStar Report 7 Sep 2007 15:40

Thanks all! Thats a thought, Urban Girl.. Didnt cross my mind.

Teresa With Irish Blood in Me Veins

Teresa With Irish Blood in Me Veins Report 7 Sep 2007 17:34

Both of my Gt Grandparents were 'minors' when they married in Ireland in 1872.

Heather

Heather Report 7 Sep 2007 20:54

You need to find out where he got the info from - its very possible he has jumped on a girl with same name but different birth date (Ive had contacts do that - having not bothered to buy the marriage cert to check the fathers name).

Also if he has leapt about instead of following backwards, and just taking his likely birth date from the 1841, ages would be rounded down to the nearest 5 - so possibly this has distorted her true age - as in if she was 15 on the 1841 it may well mean she was anything up to 19 years old possibly.

Get him to supply details of the marriage cert!

Maggie 'O the Mainland

Maggie 'O the Mainland Report 8 Sep 2007 04:33

Hi Romany Star,
I'd just like to back up what the others have said. Young marriages were far more common place back in the 1800's, but also that you must check your information and your contacts. I have a contact who has told me who he believes is my husbands 5xGGrandfather when as yet we still do not have a definite birth cert for the 4xGGrandfather. This in turn would mean the 5xGG was only 12 when he fathered his son. Hmmmmm
Sticking to the solid ground and what information you know is concrete is so important, basically if you think you're starting to slide - get back to the concrete, and what you do know and find a new path.