------------------------------------------------------ This is, I suppose, not strictly on topic, but what the heck. In my spare time from genealogy and (heaven forefend) work, I collect silversmith and jeweler's trade cards. One recently found, for a wedding jewelry maker in Sacramento CA, dated 1884, included the following list: Marriage Ages: In Austria -- 14 years for both sexes In Spain -- the man at 14, the woman at 12 In Russia -- the man at 18, the woman at 16 In Greece -- the man at 14, the woman at 12 In France -- the man at 18, the woman at 15 In Saxony -- the man at 18, the woman at 16 In Belgium -- the man at 18, the woman at 15 In Germany -- the man at 18, the woman at 14 In Switzerland -- The man at 14, the woman at 12 In Hungary: Catholics -- the man at 14, the woman at 12; Protestants -- the man at 18, the woman at 12. Worth keeping in mind when setting up potential problem searches and trying to make sense of old records. Wm Voss [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------