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     Gretna Green, Scotland, is famous for its runaway marriages that began in 1753. This tradition started when an act was passed in England requiring parental consent for marriages if either party was under 21 years old. However, this act did not apply in Scotland, where it was, and still is, possible to get married at 16 years old with or without parental consent. As a result, many young couples fled England to get married in Scotland, often arriving first at Gretna Green. The Blacksmith’s Shop in Gretna Green became the focal point of the marriage trade, with the Blacksmith’s anvil symbolizing these runaway weddings. Just as metals were joined together in the heat of the fire, couples were joined in marriage in the heat of the moment. 

    West Alexander, Pennsylvania, acquired the name "Gretna Green" from Scotland due to its reputation for runaway marriages. At the time, Pennsylvania's lack of marriage restrictions led couples to cross the state line into the first town, West Alexander.  An 1834 account states that the ceremony was customarily performed in a blacksmith’s shop, where no one would look for the couple. Between 1835 and 1885, the date of the enactment of the Pennsylvania marriage license law, over 5,000 eloping couples were married in West Alexander. All marriages were performed by Justices of the Peace and Clergymen of the town. By July 4, 1876, Rev.
William H. Lester had married more than 500 couples. The most recorded by a single person was Justice of the Peace Joseph F. Mayes, who, during his official career down to September 1881, had joined in wedlock 1,918 couples. Other notable figures include Joseph Alexander with 400 couples, Isaac Mayes with 930 couples, John Sutherland with 907 couples, and
William S. Alexander with 200 couples. These amount to over five
thousand couples, the majority being from what is now West Virginia.