Note 1426 — Chapter X · RISE OF CIVIL MARRIAGE

Hammick, Marriage Law, 14, note, citing Sir John Stoddart's Letter to Lord Brougham on the Irish Marriage Cases (1844), who says, referring to the facts mentioned in the text, "that was in the case of Hewett v. Bratcher (1809), in which I was counsel before the High Court of Delegates; and that court decided that agreeably to the Act of 1753, then in force, a marriage must, under such circumstances, be annulled." Compare also the similar case of Johnson v. Parker (1819), 3 Phillim., 39, where "the husband obtained a declaration of nullity because he was about six weeks under age at the date of the marriage, although he had himself sworn on applying for the licence that he was of age."—Geary, op. cit., 15. Other cases are mentioned in Hansard, Par. Debates, XXXIX, 1466; XLI, 1445 (1st series).