William Trigg (General)

by ChrisW , Saturday, May 27, 2017, 21:14 (2737 days ago) @ Susan Bates

Hi Susan

Relaxing? Sometimes. Extremely frustrating on occasions, but always very rewarding!

This is from 'Marriage Laws, Rites, Records & Customs' by Colin R Chapman.

From time immemorial the age for matrimonial consent was fixed at 7 years, but puberty was accepted as the age for consummation of the marriage, which was 12 for girls and 14 for boys.

Canon 100 of 1603 forbade, but did not invalidate marriage of persons under 21, except with parental consent. The legal age for marriage from 29 September 1653 was fixed at 16 for a man and 14 for a woman. In 1660 the pre-interregnum laws were reinstated and the ages of marriage reverted to 14 for the groom and 12 for the bride. Lord Hardwicke's 1753 Marriage Act, made it illegal for those in England under the age of 21 to get married without the consent of their parents or guardians. the consent requirement was repealed and replaced in 1822 and an act in 1823 restored the pre-1753 rule of Canon 100.

The 1929 Age of Marriage Act made all marriages void from 10 May 1929, if either partner was under the age of 16. The legal age for marriage remained at 14 for boys and 12 for girls in the Republic of Ireland, until 1st January 1975, when it was raised to 16.

In other words, William could marry when he was 14.

Regards
Chris