▁Ber wick shire ), ▁M ording ton ▁and ▁Pa xt on ▁T oll . ▁Port pat rick ▁in ▁W igt own shire ▁was ▁used ▁by ▁cou ples ▁from ▁Ireland , ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁daily ▁packet ▁boat ▁service ▁to ▁Don agh ade e . ▁ ▁G ret na ' s ▁famous ▁run away ▁mar ri ages ▁began ▁in ▁ 1 7 5 3 ▁with ▁the ▁passing ▁of ▁Lord ▁Hard w ic ke ' s ▁Mar riage ▁Act ▁in ▁England . ▁The ▁Act ▁required ▁consent ▁to ▁the ▁marriage ▁from ▁the ▁parents ▁if ▁a ▁party ▁to ▁a ▁marriage ▁was ▁not ▁at ▁least ▁ 2 1 ▁years ▁old . ▁However , ▁in ▁Scotland ▁it ▁was ▁possible ▁for ▁boys ▁to ▁get ▁married ▁at ▁ 1 4 ▁years ▁and ▁girls ▁at ▁ 1 2 ▁years ▁without ▁parent al ▁consent . ▁Some ▁G ret na ▁mar ri ages ▁were ▁of ▁( s ometimes ▁ab duct ed ) ▁he ir esses ; ▁e . g ., ▁the ▁second ▁marriage ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 6 ▁of ▁Edward ▁Gib bon ▁W ake field ▁to ▁the ▁young ▁he ir ess ▁Ellen ▁Turner , ▁the ▁S hr ig ley ▁ab du ction . ▁Other ▁mot ives ▁for ▁G ret na ▁mar ri ages ▁were ▁to ▁avoid ▁public ity ▁or ▁to ▁marry ▁immediately . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 6 , ▁Scottish ▁law ▁was ▁changed ▁to ▁require ▁ 2 1 ▁days ' ▁residence ▁for ▁marriage , ▁and ▁since ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁both ▁parties ▁have ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁at ▁least ▁ 1 6