What was the minimum age of marriage in the first half of the nineteenth century?

age of concent in early 19th century was 12-13 it did not move to 16 until late in 19th century. Think you also have to put it in context of the short life expectancy and that the industrial revolution had not occured, so most people never left the immediate confines of the family home village so the marriages were mostly arranged. As industrial revolution occured people left home or were working in much more public situations so the protection edged up as life expectancy went up and family conrol of the children declined -------Original Message------- From: towit@bellsouth.net Date: 03/27/08 07:50:45 To: IRL-LONGFORD@rootsweb.com Subject: [IRL-LONGFORD] legal age of marriage What was the minimum age of marriage in the first half of the nineteenth century? ********************************** Griffith's Valuations: http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LONGFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.8/1337 - Release Date: 3/20/2008 8:10 PM .