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Victorian teenage pregnancy

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Ramblin Rose

Ramblin Rose Report 17 Feb 2005 18:35

I don't think any of mine were teenagers,but nearly every single one was pregnent when they married.I CAN DO MY SUMS.--LOL Rose.

BuzzBee

BuzzBee Report 17 Feb 2005 16:45

I should imagine that with the mortality rate being so high (at one stage the life expectancy in Liverpool during the 1800s was only 19), people got married earlier and with poverty etc families were happy to get the children off and married. I'm not saying this is the case with your family but it's worth a thought. Of course, some said they were older just to get married. Judith xx

AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 17 Feb 2005 16:28

I suppose then, as now, some girls matured a lot younger than others. maybe she was well fed. Ann Glos

Queenie

Queenie Report 17 Feb 2005 16:00

But was it usual having children quite so young? She had my gt nan 2 years later.

Unknown

Unknown Report 17 Feb 2005 15:56

they could marry young with parental approval only

Queenie

Queenie Report 17 Feb 2005 15:54

If they could marry at 12 some of my lot really hung on in there waiting for Mr Right!

Abigail

Abigail Report 17 Feb 2005 15:53

I didn't think they could at that age. I thought nutrition prevented menarch until much later! They did change the legal age of marriage from 12 at some point though I am not sure when. Abigail

Speedy

Speedy Report 17 Feb 2005 15:52

In those days girls could marry at 12 and boys at 14, so yes a young bride. Bev

Queenie

Queenie Report 17 Feb 2005 15:51

After checking back on info I realised my gt gt grandmother was 13 when she got pregnant, married my gt gt grandad before the birth, still only 14 but said she was 15, March 1878 Wondered how young other peoples were when they became pregnant.