Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Twenty four years "and upwards"

Twenty four years "and upwards" (reply)

Parisien — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:02:53 +0000

Thanks for the info (and the interesting link). I did some googling, and found licenses containing various ages "and upwards", so "plus a few months" seems the most likely interpretation.

My question was about the groom. In the case of the bride (whose actual age I know), quite a lot of months would need to be added :-)

Twenty four years "and upwards" (reply)

slowhands — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:35:14 +0000

I have an ancestor who was married by license in Littledean in 1806. The marriage license gives his age as "twenty four years and upwards", with the "and upwards" pre-printed on the form. Was there any particular meaning to expressing the age in this way, or can I just assume that he was twenty four plus a few months i.e. not yet twenty five?

Martin

My understanding is that this was used to confirm ( under the Marriage Act) that those getting married were not minors ,i.e. they were over 21 and not requiring consent.

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=9809

So logically between 24 and 25, unless the form has numerals 21 that have been transcribed as 24.....

Twenty four years "and upwards" (reply)

grahamdavison — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:43:02 +0000

I have noted that on many marriage licences the age is given as 21 years and upwards, I think in this case it means over the age of 21 (i.e. possibly 28), but if the age is given as 24 and upwards I would think it was between 24 & 25.

Twenty four years "and upwards"

Parisien — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:14:23 +0000

I have an ancestor who was married by license in Littledean in 1806. The marriage license gives his age as "twenty four years and upwards", with the "and upwards" pre-printed on the form. Was there any particular meaning to expressing the age in this way, or can I just assume that he was twenty four plus a few months i.e. not yet twenty five?

Martin