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Archiver > GENBRIT > 1998-08 > 0902175045


From: Dave Beames< >
Subject: Re: Minor at marriage in 1875 - How old?
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 98 20:10:45 GMT


Mike Ogden () wrote:
> In 1875 at what age did a woman cease to be a minor for marriage
> certificate purposes? I have a marriage certificate for 1875 showing the
> groom as a bachelor age "full" and the bride as a spinster age "minor".

No-one seems to have mentioned that, given parental consent, the girl
could legally be as young as 12. Boys had to be 14.

All seems a bit pointless, given that puberty may have been as high as 16
at the time.

DaveB

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