Pennsylvannia Pedo Priest HORROR

[Rev. Rye]

To be absolutely fair to someone who may or may not deserve it, my research suggests that marriage to a 14-year-old girl was actually legal in Illinois at that time. 

All male persons over the age of 17 years, and females over the age of 14 years, may contract and be joined in marriage : Provided, in all cases where either party is a minor, the consent of parents or guardians be first had, as is hereinafter required.

https://play.google.com/books/reader?pri....RA1-PA437

So, legally, he was in the clear, except for the whole polygamy thing. However, what of the age of consent laws in place at the time? Well, I was only able to go back to 1880, but even then, in Illinois, at least, it was TEN. The highest any state had at the time was twelve, and Delaware even had it at SEVEN, and apparently, they originally had it at ten and someone in the state legislature decided to lower it.

Why, yes, that is sickening. But the fact is, at that time, the fact that dozens of women were involved was the only actionable thing about it. He had several brides who were under 18, but I don't think age was a particular attraction for him. Several of his wives were older than him. If Wikipedia's list is to be trusted, one may have been older than his PARENTS.