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hfojvt

(37,573 posts)

6. no, that is the common myth

Sun Apr 14, 2013, 02:34 AM

Apr 2013

and it may be true for pre-1600. I don't have records going back that far, but generally Catholics never married before age 20.
Example from the children of Melchior Honer
Konrad, born 26 Nov 1645 married on 18 Nov 1668 to Anna Merkt born 18 Sep 1646 (age at marriage 22)
Johann born 1 Nov 1647 married 5 Mar 1668 to Maria Keller 12 Jan 1651 (age at marriage 18, but first child born 29 Apr 1669)
Luitgard Honer born 1653 married on 26 Jun 1678 (age 25)

In colonial America they sometimes married younger, but under 16 would be very rare.

Again, for example, the children of Matthew Grant
Priscilla born 14 Sep 1626 married on 14 Oct 1647 to Michael Humphrey (age 21)
Samuel born 12 nov 1631 married 27 may 1658 Mary Porter 1 Oct 1637 (age 20)
Tahan born 3 Feb 1634 married 22 jan 1662 Hannah Palmer born 11 oct 1640 (age 21)
John born 30 Apr 1642 married 2 Aug 1666 Mary Hull born 2 Oct 1648 (age almost 18)

Oh, and "sending them out the door" was also not the common practice. For example my patriarch Jeremiah Koch in the 1880 census.
Age 69, wife Mary 60 and with him his sons Mattison 29, Amos 22 and grandson James 16. Right next door to them his daughter Jane and her husband Frank Mead and next door to them, his son Michael and his wife Arvilla. It was quite common for married children to live at home, or right down the road.

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My Niece was 14 years old [View all] Texasgal Apr 2013 OP

Thank you for coming to her aid Xipe Totec Apr 2013 #1

And, I am not a troll Texasgal Apr 2013 #2

LOL ! jaysunb Apr 2013 #3

Used to marry them off at 12 and send them out the door. Just saying... eom Purveyor Apr 2013 #4

no, that is the common myth hfojvt Apr 2013 #6

'Age of consent' laws in the USA were set at between 10-12 by 1880. By 1920, most states upped Purveyor Apr 2013 #24

consent to have sex, not consent to marry hfojvt Apr 2013 #26

As a medievalist, very uncommon pre-1600 as well except in unusual circumstances anneboleyn Apr 2013 #76

As a medievalist, were you insulted by "Pulp Fiction?" AngryAmish Apr 2013 #86

and the wives were considered men's property, just asking- do you have a point to make? bettyellen Apr 2013 #13

What part of 'just saying...' couldn't you comprehend. eom Purveyor Apr 2013 #22

usually "just saying" implies significance... but I guess, not always. LOL. bettyellen Apr 2013 #28

Woodland air is fine to breathe. Just sayin'... LanternWaste Apr 2013 #80

According to the story Aerows Apr 2013 #51

Used to? There are still child marriages in this world... Neoma Apr 2013 #15

So much thanks to you Texasgal!! MichelleB Apr 2013 #5

The 15 year old should be reported to the police for statutory rape. pnwmom Apr 2013 #8

12 and 14 are not the same thing in the eyes of the law Aerows Apr 2013 #31

Statutory rape = sex with a minor child. pnwmom Apr 2013 #41

It's a bit more forceful Aerows Apr 2013 #42

Because putting a 15 year old in jail is a good idea? IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #61

No, to get him out of her life so they won't be raising a child together. pnwmom Apr 2013 #63

The odds aren't good the courts will push him "out" of her life -- IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #64

Nice advice. MichelleB Apr 2013 #68

That is crazy. It doesn't matter what a 12 year old thinks, according to statutory rape laws. pnwmom Apr 2013 #73

Vermont law.. MichelleB Apr 2013 #74

A 12 year old isn't subject to the "close in age exception." pnwmom Apr 2013 #75

You are absolutely right Aerows Apr 2013 #82

Thanks, Aerows, pnwmom Apr 2013 #85

Your English mzteris Apr 2013 #10

I am wondering about something... Whisp Apr 2013 #14

True, such situations do sadly exist . . . mzteris Apr 2013 #17

It's a politically driven tall tale Aerows Apr 2013 #32

Thankyou, Aerows. You are wise. Whisp Apr 2013 #38

Worse Aerows Apr 2013 #39

I agree. HappyMe Apr 2013 #60

Yes, it does matter. MADem Apr 2013 #58

iPhones aren't THAT awesome MichelleB Apr 2013 #20

Lol mzteris Apr 2013 #21

I'll tell you this Aerows Apr 2013 #40

... MichelleB Apr 2013 #67

If your daughter was raped at five Aerows Apr 2013 #69

Google: Vermont Depart of Family and Child services... DCF MichelleB Apr 2013 #71

If your child was raped at 5 Aerows Apr 2013 #72

I recommend you use this awesome "ignore" feature when people call you a liar. IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #62

Put me on ignore, then Aerows Apr 2013 #70

I have reported you to the Admins and alerted on your abusive posts. IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #77

And when this is revealed to be a hoax Aerows Apr 2013 #78

Assume you are right, and it is a hoax. IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #79

If she has a 10 year old Aerows Apr 2013 #81

My point with the story about my niece is that -- IdaBriggs Apr 2013 #84

I know! Isn't it amazing? Heddi Apr 2013 #25

This looks like a hardcore Aerows Apr 2013 #43

The whole thing is sickening Heddi Apr 2013 #44

It's extremely sickening Aerows Apr 2013 #83

I'm "gunna" be as amazed as you are, "weather" or not you want me to be! "For real!" nt MADem Apr 2013 #53

the reason i have a hard time believing that story is because of the Abortion Focus JI7 Apr 2013 #7

I don't know the story, but the first thing I would think about was termination if my 12 year old NotThisTime Apr 2013 #45

You don't know the story? You posted IN THE THREAD a day before you made this post! MADem Apr 2013 #59

To call the authorities? a la izquierda Apr 2013 #9

I'm sorry about your niece's situation. blueamy66 Apr 2013 #11

Seventeen is quite a bit different than fourteen (never mind twelve.) Gormy Cuss Apr 2013 #18

I guess so. blueamy66 Apr 2013 #19

My sister was just barely 14 when she got pregnant and ended up married. He was 17. hobbit709 Apr 2013 #12

so sorry... Whisp Apr 2013 #16

I was sixteen when I had my first child. I grew up fast as she was severely disabled. Married the jwirr Apr 2013 #23

16 isn't 12. Aerows Apr 2013 #37

You are correct and today is very different than then. Many of us were getting married very young jwirr Apr 2013 #66

Girls used to be married off at menarche Warpy Apr 2013 #27

Some girls have menarche at 9 Aerows Apr 2013 #36

No, but some men are. Warpy Apr 2013 #47

She supposedly Aerows Apr 2013 #49

Yeppers, as I stated in the original post Warpy Apr 2013 #52

My neighbor got pregnant when she was 14 HockeyMom Apr 2013 #29

14 isn't 12. n/t Aerows Apr 2013 #35

Of course it exists and I still believe she's a troll. cali Apr 2013 #30

14 is also not 12 Aerows Apr 2013 #34

Could you tell me what program VT has for parents of drug addicted teens? NotThisTime Apr 2013 #46

Even younger daughter in the household Aerows Apr 2013 #50

Every area in the state has a community mental health service. Everyone of those has cali Apr 2013 #54

I have a 900.00 bill from one of these centers, they assessed my drug addicted kid and talked to NotThisTime Apr 2013 #55

you must have good financial resources. EVERY one of those centers cali Apr 2013 #56

I had a problem with the comments about Howard Dean's CHILDREN. MADem Apr 2013 #57

14 under law Aerows Apr 2013 #33

k&r Liberal_in_LA Apr 2013 #48

There are lots of instances of this happening - many with happy endings, many with bad endings. cbdo2007 Apr 2013 #65