Genealogy Chat

I am not sure how much checking 19th century registrars did, maybe they took your grandmothers word for it that she was a widow, people did separate by mutual consent (it was too expensive to get the paperwork in order). I have a relative describing herself as a widow when her husband had left her and gone to Australia, she didnt remarry but he did while she was still alive, and no one seems to have been the wiser at the time. It seems to have been the men who ran into trouble as bigamists since they had two wives and familes to support so the dependants had a vested interest, so long as husband no 1 wasnt asked to contribute to household no 2 if his wife left or he left, he probably wouldnt complain so no one would be much the wiser. Pam

Hello Thanks for your replies. Mary, the thing is they werent worth a bob or two, that is why i couldnt understand it. They came from the east end of london, my 3x gt grandmother remarried in 1878 and i know her 1st husband was still alive because i found him in the workhouse on 1881 census, which proves he had no money so maybe she got married illegally or just said he was dead when he wasnt. I will have to try and get hold of second marriage cert to be sure. I havent found out yet what happened to husband no 2 but by 1891 census she was married to someone else and had two children living with her with surname of second husband. I will try the national archivist site thankyou. Regards Sharon

Hello Sharon, Somebody in my family history group found two late 1800 divorces on the National Archivist site. Not sure of the web address, stick it in google, should get it. You can search free but have to put £6 I believe on to look and print off records. The credits last a month.

Hi there Sharon, The PRO Records Information leaflet 127 is all about divorce which you should read.. After 1858 all divorce cases in England and Wales were heard before the new court for divorce and after 1873 by the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the Supreme Court of Judicature. Files from these courts can be found in PRO Principal Probate Registry Divorce Files, 1858 to 1938. Some files are restricted to 75 years and you have to ask permission from the Principal Registry of the Family Division. If after all that and you think it is worth having a look, then let me know how you get on. I think that they must have been worth a bob or two to go through such a court to obtain a divorce. Mary

Hi I have a female ancestor that seems to have been married 3 times and know that her first husband was still alive when she married husband no 2. Were people able to divorce in those days and if so would there be any records of it and where? Hope someone can help. Thanks Sharon