Tracy-- People didn't get "quickie" marriages in 1811 or 1812 and 16 year old girls married all the time in those days. My own gr. gr. gr. grandmother eloped in 1825 in Orange County and settled in Rockingham. She was 15 years old. The elopement process at that time required pregnancy. In other words, the would- be bride became pregnant by her intended and thereby forced her father to give the previously-withheld permission for the marriage. Having an illegitimate child, she was no longer marriageable. In the case of my ancestress, and probably yours, they waited until after the baby was born to have the wedding-- probably because the problem solved itself if the child or mother didn't survive the birth. Kevin Thompson katatty@socket.net > I have a strong suspicision that my gr gr gr grandfather may have eloped, or > tried to elope with my gr gr gr grandmother in Rockingham County in the year > 1811 or 1812. The reason I said "tried to elope..." was that when my gr gr > grandfather was born in June of 1812 my gr gr gr grandmother was not married. > If she became pregnant in September of 1811, she may have run off and gotten > married in the nearest county that would allow a 16 yr. old girl to marry > back then. This could have happened in the fall of 1811 or maybe even in the > early spring of 1812. Bottom line is that my gr gr gr grandfather married > someone else in Rockingham County in October 1812. Any thoughts on where they > may have gone to get a quickie marriage? > > Sincerely > > Tracy Hunter >