The most famous husband of a 13 year old has passed away

[MatureDJ]

MSN

 

[Veréngárda]

Why is the age of the 13 year old important?

 

[logicallefty]

Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13yo cousin.

 

[Slowhandluke]

Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13yo cousin.

It was common back then. I think Darwin did the same thing. So did carol Lewis?

9 Famous People Who Married Their Cousins

Discover celebrities that have married their cousins. Explore your own family tree, maybe you will find a few surprises!

blogs.ancestry.com

 

[MatureDJ]

Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13yo cousin.

I think she was technically a 1st cousin once removed.

 

[logicallefty]

I think she was technically a 1st cousin once removed.

Yeah I think your right, it wasn't first cousin I remember that much. I fooled around with my two second cousins when I was an early teenager so I can't say too much bout' this.

 

[corsica]

 

[zekko]

It was common back then. I think Darwin did the same thing. So did carol Lewis?

It wasn't really common at the time, it was a huge scandal that ended his career as a top rock and roll star. You'd have to go back a little further for it to be common. Even in pioneer days, I think 14 or 15 was more acceptable. It wasn't unheard of though. Certainly it was more rare then than now. I'm not even sure it's legal now? When I was growing up, as long as your parents gave you permission, you could get married.

Elvis Presley reached an arrangement with Priscilla's parents for her to live with him when she was 14. The idea was he would marry her when she came of age and he wouldn't touch her until then, but there are rumors that arrangement didn't exactly hold up. I always wondered why Jerry Lee Lewis took so much guff for his situation when Elvis didn't.

 

[Slowhandluke]

It wasn't really common at the time, it was a huge scandal that ended his career as a top rock and roll star. You'd have to go back a little further for it to be common. Even in pioneer days, I think 14 or 15 was more acceptable. It wasn't unheard of though. Certainly it was more rare then than now. I'm not even sure it's legal now? When I was growing up, as long as your parents gave you permission, you could get married.

Elvis Presley reached an arrangement with Priscilla's parents for her to live with him when she was 14. The idea was he would marry her when she came of age and he wouldn't touch her until then, but there are rumors that arrangement didn't exactly hold up. I always wondered why Jerry Lee Lewis took so much guff for his situation when Elvis didn't.

This is my take:

Jerry was a "mad man". He wasn't really mainstream or someone a woman would bring to her parents.

Having him marry a young innocent woman was bad enough, but also his cousin - that was scandalous at the time. Like you mention, other people in the past did it, and they weren't crucified for it. We may think of jerry not being a rebel. But he was at that time. A rebel playing the devils music should not be marrying young innocent women.

Also remember back then almost all women were considered innocent and should be protected from "bad" men.

The pioneer days was arround 1900. Jerry Lewis time was arround 1930. That's only 30 years. The time periods are not too different.

 

[corsica]

I read an article explaining he initially lied saying she was 15 at the time. Only later it was revealed she was 13. She popped a baby at 14.

So 15 was considered "okay" at the time.

 

[zekko]

Also remember back then almost all women were considered innocent and should be protected from "bad" men.

It's still that way, it's just that what is considered "innocent" these days has changed. A woman can be an outright ho and people will say she is empowered and taking charge of her sexuality.

So 15 was considered "okay" at the time.

A relative of mine got pregnant and married at 15. Still married over 40 years later.