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Archiver > WEST-RIDING > 2003-09 > 1062967345


From: "Marilyn Maybury" <>
Subject: Re: [WRY] Divorce in the 1890s
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2003 22:03:08 +0100
References: <002301c37538$28d87a80$d53d1f3e@s2t4v8> <3F5B93DB.6060808@virgin.net>


Thank you very much for this information Guy.

Wendy King has given me the details of a website where it is possible to
search the index of divorces from 1858 to 1903. Then, for a small charge,
it is possible to view the actual index entry and obtain the case reference
number. This website will shortly be offering the opportunity to buy copies
of the case files via them. Anthony Lambert has sent me information about
the records held at the PRO, but it sounds as though they can only be
viewed, not bought.

www.nationalarchivist.com

Walter and Mary Jane did indeed divorce - in 1894. I hadn't realised that
his subsequent marriage to his wife's sister was illegal, but presumably he
knew it and that is why he declared himself a 'bachelor' when he married in
church.

Thank you for all your help folks, yet again you've come up trumps!

Marilyn Maybury

----- Original Message -----
From: "Guy Etchells" <>
To: "Marilyn Maybury" <>
Cc: <>
Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 9:23 PM
Subject: Re: [WRY] Divorce in the 1890s


> The PRO has indexes of divorces for the period you are interested in,
> and by 1895 Mary could have instigated the divorce.
> I would not be surprised however if they simply separated rather than
> bother with a divorce.
> For more information see
> http://www.pro.gov.uk/leaflets/Riindex.asp click on d then divorce
> records after 1858.
>
> The fact that Walter married Mary's sister confirms the fact he did not
> bother to follow the niceties of the law as it was an illegal marriage
> at that point in time.
> Cheers
> Guy
>
> Marilyn Maybury wrote:
> > When Mary Jane AIRTON married Joseph CROFT at the Wharfedale Register
Office on 28 December 1895, her condition was given as 'The divorced wife of
Walter Airton'. However, when Walter remarried the following February in
the Parish Church of Guiseley he was a 'Bachelor'.
> >
> > We think that the divorce took place because Mary Jane's sister, Martha,
was living with the family from 1882 and Walter appears to have been
producing children with both sisters. Presumably Mary Jane got tired of
sharing the marital bed with her sister! Walter's marriage
> > in 1896 was to Martha. Can anyone answer these two questions for me?
> >
> > 1. How can I find out the date of the divorce? The three of them (plus
assorted children) were living together at the time of the 1891 census and
as they both remarried within two months, I suspect that the divorce was
finalised towards the end of 1895. I intend to check the Leeds newspapers
for that period, but if I can't find a reference to the divorce, is there an
index of divorces anywhere?
> >
> > 2. Would Mary Jane have been able to divorce Walter or would he have
had to instigate proceedings?
> >
> > Any help will be very much appreciated.
> >
> > Marilyn Maybury
> > researching AIRTON, BATESON, CAWTHRAY, KEIGHLEY & WHITFIELD from the
parishes of Calverley & Guiseley and BENTHAM from Thornton (Bradford)
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Wakefield, England
> http://freespace.virgin.net/guy.etchells The site that gives you facts
> not promises!
>
> I use Archive CD Books in my research http://www.archivecdbooks.org
> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/dh/ Whitefield
> Transcripts, Etch/ells Transcripts
>
>

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