Bigamy ??

[steve shephard]

Hi

My Grandmother married my Grandfather in 1930, she was Scottish but married him in Shoreditch in London, they had five children and live happily until he died in 1979. She died aprox 17 years later.

After her death there were some family rumours and with a little detective work, we have found a marriage for her in Scotland in 1929, in Edinburgh, she married a Fredrick Williams, a seaman with the Merchant Navy, from Plumpsted in england.

However on her wedding certificate to my Grandfather it states that she is a spinster, not divorcee or widow, does this mean she was a bigamist?

Regards
Steve

[LesleyB]

hi Steve
Welcome to Talking Scot

I'm assuming you have copies of both the marriages and can verify that it is the same person on both records, not perhaps two people with the same name?
If so, going from what you have said, I'd be tempted to think she may have been being economical with the truth perhaps, or perhaps she omitted to mention anything and assumptions were made ...?
But do you know what happened to Fredrick Williams? Did he perhaps die at sea before her 2nd marriage? That would be one line of enquiry I'd be wanting to follow I think. Frederick's parents should be given on the Scottish marriage.

Best wishes
Lesley

[paddyscar]

Hi Steve and a warm welcome to

I'd say, if you found her marriage to someone else prior to marrying your grandfather, she would be a divorcée or widow, but not likely a spinster.

Although, if there were an annullment of the marriage, I don't know what exactly her status would have been.I'm not sure if an annullment, especially if granted through a church, would have been cause for the public records to have been amended.

Have you found the marriage registration on ScotlandsPeople with the right parents? Have you checked for a death registration for her 'first' husband? Have you found her on any census with him?

Sorry, I'm asking more than answering, but someone will be able to help I'm sure.

Frances

[steve shephard]

Hi Lesley,

My Grans name was Bridget Norah Kennelly, she married Frederick Williams in 1929 in Edinburgh, both set of parents were there.

His being; Frederick Williams, 110 Lakedale Road, Plumstead and Alma Edith Williams nee Thorogood.

Her father was John Kennelly, Bombadier Royal Garrison Artillary, based at castle. Her mother was Euphemia Kennelly nee Green.

What concerns me is that if Frederick had died, wouldn't she have widow on her marriage certificate to her 2nd husband Leonard Shephard??? or alternatively if they got divorced, divorcee?

Or could she have continued to have used her maiden name after marriage and called herself a spinster ???

Regards
Steve

[Russell]

Hi Steve

I reckon that, if the marriage was annulled she would still be able to call herself a spinster since effectively the marriage had been rendered a non-event.
If she had divorced her first husband she would not want the divorce to be public knowledge as it was considered socially unacceptable even into the 1940's to be divorced.
If the marriage had ended by either death of spouse or divorce she could, under Scots law, call herself by whatever name she chose.

Only if she had walked out on the first marriage without going through the formality and legal requirement of the divorce process, would she then committing an offence by marrying again.
At least that's my interpretation of the way the Law would see things.

Russell

[steve shephard]

Hi Russell

I have looked on BMD for the death of Frederick williams but have not really had much luck. I suppose I need to check with the Scottish records to see if she had the marriage annulled. BUT........ the family did state that there was a big family fall out and she never had any more contact with her parents after she married my grandfather, so she stayed south of the boarder. At her funeral one of her children (my aunt) said she remembered Nana's brother coming down from Scotland to see her but she was not happy to see him, so it all sounds a bit cloak and daggerish.

Thanks for your views

Regards
Steve

[JustJean]

If you're unable to find out what happened to the marriage...perhaps you could trace Fredrick through the merchant service. Certainly worth a try if you're determined to find the truth on this one. Maybe this link will be of some help http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/nav.2983

Best wishes
Jean

[Russell]

Hi Steve

Although Scots Law differs from English Law for marriage and birth records and their interpretation by the 1900's there was sufficient government records covering pensions, health insurance etc that there was always a chance of a bigamous marriage coming to light via some other documentation other than a Scottish marriage certificate.
It has always been harder for a woman to obtain a divorce than her spouse. He controlled her income usually and that made it difficult for her to file for divorce if she was unable to afford the legal costs.
It looks as if one of the skeletons has just fallen out of the cupboard.

Russell

[carolineasb]

Hi Steve

I have a marriage certificate from around the 20s/30s which is stamped that the couple were subsequently divorced. I believe that the Registry Office may still link Divorces with the original Marriage Certificate for Divorces granted nowadays (in Scotland anyway).

Rgds

Caroline

[AndrewP]

I have a marriage certificate from around the 20s/30s which is stamped that the couple were subsequently divorced. I believe that the Registry Office may still link Divorces with the original Marriage Certificate for Divorces granted nowadays (in Scotland anyway).

I also have seen a divorce put through as an RCE (entry in the Register of Corrected Entries), but I am not sure how consistently this was done. The Divorces Register did not start until 1984, so does not apply to the one you are looking for.

All the best,

AndrewP