In poring over my collection of marriage records, I am reminded not to accept someone's age without question.
Elton married Esther and they both lied about their ages on their marriage license. In reality he was 30. She was 16 years old. Her 17th birthday was six+ weeks away.
Why? Was it because her parents would not have approved? Two pages below show what they told the court clerk:
And no, I know not why a second page covers the top portion.
The witnesses to their marriage were Wesley Raymond Fox and his bride of one year, Zelma Pearl (Price) Fox. Pearl was Esther's aunt. And Pearl was half-sister to Esther's mom, Evie. Yet Pearl and Esther were both born in 1909. I remember Grandma talking about a "Pearl." If so, perhaps they were close friends then and remained so. Do you know?
Guess who also lied about their ages on their March 12, 1925 marriage license? Wes is actually 19, but indicates he's 22 years old. Pearl is 16, but says she's 18 years old.
Pearl's mom, "Anna Price," is named as a witness on the certificate. I don't know why it was necessary to lie about your age, Miss Zelma Pearl. I mean, really! I've seen plenty of Oklahoma marriage licenses for teenagers who had a parent write their "consent" on the license. Zelma Pearl's mom is a witness and they still "fudged" their ages. Maybe Mom didn't know how young her son-in-law actually was?
NOT TO BE OUTDONE: in July of 1929 we have my G-Uncle Ernest and G-Aunt Mabel applying for a license in Creek County, Oklahoma. Young Mable was born on Halloween in 1914. This according to her grave marker (not considered "primary" source-worthy) AND the Oklahoma State Vital Records Index (a better secondary source).
Ernest was born in 1908. This made the couple 14 and 21, respectively. So WHAT ages did they put on their marriage license?
Source: "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995." Database with images via FamilySearch.
NOTE: Ernest signed it "Earnest" just to confuse future family researchers.
Kids, today. They'll say anything.
