Underage Marriage?

[jamied]

Hello All

I've become obssessed with researching my family history in Scotland and have traced as far back as a Marriage between Robert Davidson and Anne Brown on 11/2/1792 - St Andrews, Fife. However the only Robert Davidson birth I can find that seems to match my family history in this area is Robert Davidson born 14/7/1776 in Cupar, Fife. This would have made him 15 when he was married!! Their first son Andrew was born 3/2/1793. Is this possible, official marriage at this age? Is this a known age for marriage in these times? I have tried searching so many other birth records in and out of the area but this Robert Davidson seems like the best match but the young age is putting me off continuning further down this line. Any help or advice much appreciated for this novice geneaologist.

Thanks in advance for any assistance

[SarahND]

Hi jdavo,
And welcome to Talking Scot!

I don't suppose he obligingly lived until the 1841 census, so you could check his approximate age? As far as I know, 15 would not have been underage for marriage at that time. Girls only had to be 12 or 13, in my memory. I know I've seen this information somewhere, but I'm not finding it. Someone will come along soon who will know...

Cheers,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Later...
I see three possible Roberts in the IGI:

Robert Davidson
Christening: 14 Jul 1776 Cupar, Fife
Father: William Davidson
Mother: Janet Mackay

Robert Davidson
Christening: 19 Apr 1761 Cupar, Fife
Father: Robert Davidson

Robert Davidson
Christening: 16 Nov 1755 Cupar, Fife
Father: John Davidson

Is there some reason why you think the earlier ones are not the right person? Also, is there a reason why he should have been born in Cupar and not elsewhere in Fife?


Are these your Ann and Robert?

1841
Hilltown W Side No 16, Dundee, Angus
Robert Davidson, 70, born Scotland, Labourer
Ann Brown, 70, born Scotland

All the best,
Sarah

[LesleyB]

Hi Jamied
and welcome to Talking Scot.
There is lots of useful information here:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/history.pdf
including

Age of Marriage Act 1929
An act to make void marriages between persons either of whom is under the age of 16. Prior to this change in legislation girls could marry at 12 and boys at 14 but marriages at such early ages were almost unknown. Sixteen remains the lower age-limit today, contained in the current legislation, the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977. Scots law still has no requirement for parental consent. There is no upper age limit.

Best wishes
Lesley

[jamied]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. What a great site this is. I did check the 1841 census and couldn't find any reference to a Robert Davidson around the 60+ age. I was leaning towards this Robert Davidson of 1776 as his fathers name was William and the 2nd son with his marriage to Ann Brown was William which is a common name throughout my family tree (i understand that usually the first son was usually named after the paternal grandfather but can't find a reference to an Andrew). As most of my family seem to have been located around this part of Fife i thought this would be the best place to start. I don't really know how much people moved around in those days. It would be great if there were death certificates from those days but I can't seem to find records anywhere online...maybe they were too poor. The marriage info is interesting but it does sound unlikely getting married at 14..especially as I thought his wife Anne Brown was born in Newburn in 1755 (mother Isabel same as their first daughters name) but would that make her too old! Also I have done a search for their Children and the last son seems to have been born in 1810 so again maybe she's too old to be the Anne Brown...so many questions but I really don't want to go down the wrong line. Any ideas about death certificates for this early 1800 period?

Thanks again

[LesleyB]

Hi jamied
For deaths you really need to check out the OPRs pre 1855 on microfilm.
You can order films from your nearest LDS for a small fee.

Best wishes
Lesley

[margarita]

However the only Robert Davidson birth I can find that seems to match my family history in this area is Robert Davidson born 14/7/1776 in Cupar, Fife.

Hello Jamied ,

Do you know if this date was his birth or his baptism?

The IGI posted by SarahND would indicate the latter, so he could have been baptised at an age that would make him old enough to be married in 1792.

Regards,

[jamied]

Hi

Thanks for your help. This was the date he was baptised. I don't really know whcih way to go now there's so many possibilities..and some of the potential fathers don't have a wife listed. Any quick tips on the best way forward to discover when Robert Davidson marr 1792 to Anne Brown was born? Is it just a matter of finding the death records and tracing back from there? Being in Australia I think this will be a bit hard...I've hit a brick wall!

Thanks

[LesleyB]

Hi Jamie

...a Marriage between Robert Davidson and Anne Brown on 11/2/1792 - St Andrews, Fife.

Have you seen the original OPR entry for the marriage? That would normally be the starting point. There is always a chance that it may give an abode or occupation and then you can work from there.

Their first son Andrew was born 3/2/1793

Do the OPR birth/christening entires for their children give any clues at all - place, occupation?

RE. Robert Davidson born 14/7/1776 in Cupar, on the Fife Death Index CD, there is Robert Davdson, son of William Davidson who died in Cupar and was buried 18 Dec 1776, (OPR420-2) so if that is the same one, it looks like he did not survive.

Best wishes
Lesley

[jamied]

Thanks for the replies. So it looks as though that's not the Robert Davidson I'm looking for. I'm checking the death records now so hopefully this will lead me to the birth date of my Robert Davidson. Thanks to all for the help and suggestions.