My apologies for the off-topic posting but Sue enjoyed the story as much as I did and allowed me to share it with the list. It was not uncommon for people to marry below the legal age of 21 without the necessary parental permission. My 2g-grandmother did it; she married by banns at age 17, and signed the certificate as of full age :-) In this case the parents were apparently very opposed to the marriage and set the law in action. I wonder why the wife of the parish clerk, who apparently accepted the application for banns, didn't ask about parental permission when the bride was said to be only 20? The marriage is shown on FreeBMD with the bride listed as Bloomer Fry! I don't know if it was dissolved; I didn't find the couple in a quick search of the 1881 census. I did find Elizabeth Fry on the 1861 census; listed as 9, so she would have been 19 in 1871 rather than 17 as stated in court if that age was correct. I would certainly like to know how the situation ended! The Times (London), September 1, 1871, page 9 At the THAMES Police-court yesterday, SAMUEL MOSS, aged 20 years, was brought up on remand, charged with making a false declaration of his age and the age of Elizabeth Fry, to whom he was married at Stepney parish church on Sunday, the 2d of July last. Mr. F. H. Lewis, barrister, who was instructed by Mr. Lichfield, conducted the prosecution; Mr Louis Lewis defended the prisoner. Since the last examination the counsel for the prosecution has taken out two summonses against the young men who signed the register-book of marriages in false names in Stepney Church, and Mr. Louis Lewis has taken out one summons against Elizabeth Fry, the wife of Samuel Moss, and he contended that she was as much to blame as her husband, and that she signed the name of "Bloomer Fry" in the register book, her real name being Elizabeth Fry. Confirmatory proof was given of the false declaration made by Samuel Moss,who, in giving notice of the publication of bans [sic] to Mrs. Price, the wife of the parish clerk of Stepney, said his own age was 21 and the age of the bride 20. Mr. Philip Fry, pawnbroker, of 2 Crown-street, Soho, the father of the girl said she was only 17 years of age. He was opposed to the marriage and should move the Court of Probate and Divorce to dissolve it. Mr. Paget committed the young man Samuel Moss for trial, and on the application of Mr. Louis Lewis consented to take bail for his appearance at the Sessions, himself in 50l, and two sureties of 25l each. The two young men who were summoned for signing false names in the register-book of marriages were discharged, Mr. Fry consenting to withdraw the summonses against them. The last charge was against Elizabeth Fry, otherwise Moss, who was charged with making a false declaration. She signed the register-book "Bloomer Fry" and her father said she was as often called Bloomer as Elizabeth. Mr. Louis Lewis described her as a very wicked girl, and said the marriage was concocted by her, and that she was no less culpable than her husband. Mr. F. H. Lewis said she had nothing to do with the publication of bans or making a false declaration, and that all she did was sign the register as "Bloomer Fry," by which she was as well known as her real name. The marriage was never consummated, and the girl had been at home with her parents ever since it was solemnized. Mr. Paget took the bail of the girl's father for her appearance at the Sessions to answer the charge. -- Harry Dodsworth Ottawa Ontario Canada af877@freenet.carleton.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------