Many things :o) But, as Joan said, it may have been by colony, and place, also? And, it could have been by situation. They certainly got married AWful young for convenience sake many times, especially when crossing the prairie and venturing into new lands, where there may not have been any way of getting consent from someone, especially if both parents were killed, and they were traveling on their own as teens, meeting up with folks. So, I would assume that maybe, in a case like that, the pastor, who came along, would give the consent? Just what would they do in a case like that? Hmmmmmm, I wonder? Lynn Sally wrote: Thank you Lynn, is there anything you haven't done!!! You are amazing. Sally Lynn wrote: > In Columbia, it must have been 21, because all others needed parent's > consent to marry. Being church historian, I have the church records here. > The age, unless it is 21 and over is indicated. If 21 and over, the > records just say "Full Age" or "Of Age". AND, if they didn't give the > age, they have for the one couple, "Full Age" for the groom, and "Consent" > for the bride. > Sally asked: > Hi Judy; I didn't know there was an age restriction. What was the age > for > men and woman or was it the same?

All this talk about marriages reminds me of a custom back in the old, old days where a man and a woman would rise in church on three consecutive Sundays and proclaim their intention to be married. I think this was also known as reading the banns. Richard Emlin Reed Wesley Chapel, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynn Vondran" <lynnvondran@att.net> To: <padutch-life@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 3:29 PM Subject: Re: [PD-LIFE] Underage Marriages > Many things :o) > But, as Joan said, it may have been by colony, and place, also? And, it > could have been by situation. They certainly got married AWful young for > convenience sake many times, especially when crossing the prairie and > venturing into new lands, where there may not have been any way of getting > consent from someone, especially if both parents were killed, and they > were traveling on their own as teens, meeting up with folks. So, I would > assume that maybe, in a case like that, the pastor, who came along, would > give the consent? Just what would they do in a case like that? > Hmmmmmm, I wonder? > Lynn