[APG Public List] Required Age of female witness to marriage 1806 Virginia

[Barbara Vines Little, CG]

English common law required witnesses to be of the age of reason which 
was usually established as 14 but could be earlier. See Giles Jacob, _A 
New Law Dictionary: Containing the Interpretation and Definition of 
Words and Terms Used in the Law..._ (1744; reprint, Clark, N.J.: The LAw 
Book Exchange, 2004), not paginated; see entry under age.

Barbara Vines Little, CG
PO Box 1273
Orange, VA 22960
bvlittle at earthlink.net
540-832-3473


On 2/8/2010 5:04 PM, CL Swope (alfonsa) wrote:
> My ancestress served as witness for her sister's marriage June 1 1806 
> in Goochland. What does it tell me of her age?  Am I wrong to think 
> that this might mean she was 21 by that date?
>
> TIA
> Cynthia
>
>