In 1856, Henry was 22 years old at the time of his marriage. His wife, Catherine Meadows, was about 14 and already pregnant with their first child. This situation may well appal those reading it today. There is reason to believe that marrying a girl of fourteen was considered unacceptable even in 1856. On their marriage certificate, Catherine overstated her age as 17, clearly disguising her true age. The law allowed girls to be married at 12 years. Legally, Henry and Catherine had not broken any law. Still, despite the legality of the situation, there seems to be no other explanation for the deceit regarding Catherine’s age than to conceal it because it was socially unacceptable. Whether Catherine knew about the deception is questionable; she was illiterate and unable to write her name. Catherine’s birth was registered in the first quarter of 1842, indicating that she had just turned 14 at the time of her marriage.
Henry and Catherine successfully raised 13 children to adulthood during a time when infant mortality rates were appalling.
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