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I don't suppose it was a lot of fun back then being married to a bloke who'd just sailed off to China.

Many thanks Jax

For pointing out what I should have thought of myself.
Clever you
Maureen

Tut tut tut.....lol

jax

Well well, someone's in luck.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

I just stuck

George Reeves divorce

in the quick search box.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?
CATLN=7&CATID=-3068567&j=1

Divorce Court File: 9393. Appellant: George Reeves. Respondent: Mary Jane Reeves. Co-respondent: [...] Hopkins. Type: Husband's petition for divorce [hd].
Date: 1884

Guesses as to who the co-respondent was? ;)

Here's the divorce:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-3068567&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CGEORGE%2CREEVES%2CREEVES&accessmethod=0

Several trees on Ancestry have the family, one has a photo of Harriet Reeves.

Only one refers to the divorce on 28/8/1885 at the High Court of Justice, London. Where do we find that record? EDIT found it.

Births Sep 1877 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reeves Harriet Frances Alverstoke 2b 510

I must've been blind.

Marriages Dec 1876 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Budd Mary Jane Alverstoke 2b 1039
Reeves George Alverstoke 2b 1039

1881 England Census
about Mary J. Reeves
Name: Mary J. Reeves
Age: 23
Estimated birth year: abt 1858
Relation: Wife (Head) (Head)
Gender: Female
Where born: Gosport, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Alverstoke
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address: 12 Clarence Rd
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Alverstoke
Sub-registration district: Alverstoke
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Mary J. Reeves 23 Married
Harriett J. Reeves 3 (Image says Harriett F Reeves)

George is on board ship, The Mosquito, bound for China.

Ahhhh so thats why it says they were married 34 years she was including her first marriage

jax

There a tree on Ancestry with the family - Mary Jane Budd marries George Reeves in 1876, and, wait for it, DIVORCES HIM in 1885. I've not had a divorce that far back before.

Must delve some more.

He has Harriet Frances Reeves born 5/8/1877, but the only Harriet Frances I can see is called Godden, June qtr.

1871 England Census
about Edward Hopkins
Name: Edward Hopkins
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: abt 1852
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: Gosport, Hampshire, England
Civil parish: Portsea
Ecclesiastical parish: St Luke
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Landport
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Household schedule number: 325
Household Members: Name Age
George Hopkins 45
Elizabeth Hopkins 41
George Hopkins 20
Edward Hopkins 19
Eleanor Hopkins 9 (born Freemantle, Australia!)

On the 1881 there is also Frederick E Ward, 22, wife Eleanor 18 (born Australia) and 2-month old twins Emma A and Eleanor E Ward, living with the Hopkins family.

This looks like Edward in1881 - same occupation as in 1891:

1881 England Census
about Edward Hopkins
Name: Edward Hopkins
Age: 29
Estimated birth year: abt 1852
Relation: Son
Father's Name: George
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Gender: Male
Where born: Gosport, Hampshire, England

Civil parish: Portsea
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street Address: 57 Clarence St
Education:

Employment status: View image
Occupation: Cook R N

Registration district: Portsea Island
Sub-registration district: Kingston
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
George Hopkins 54
Elizabeth Hopkins 51
Edward Hopkins 29

So who is Harriet Hopkins b 1878? No Harriet Hopkins or Harriet Budd birth, no sign of Mary Jane or Harriet Hopkins/Budd together in 1881.

Plausible births for Edward George, Albert William, Daisy Rosina and Dora Rosina (odd?) - all Hopkins.

You're welcome Maureen

sorry have no idea how to print it...it will not be deleted unless you do it yourself!!

I am useless with computers but you could copy and paste it and put it in a file?

jax

Thanks so much to all of you. I'm fairly sure the Portsea Island district's the right one.

Have to say I'm so impressed with the level of help and expertise you all have. I'm such a beginner at this!

If I've forgotten to thank anyone then. Apologies!

Regards
Maureen

p.s. You wouldn't happen to know how I can print all the info out would you?

I tried and only got the adverts nothing else. Tried installing READABILITY but that will on print half a page for some reason.

Thanks (in hopes)

Many thanks for your suggestions Janey.

I feel cross that people don't thank you for your help (unless I misunderstood you!) I'm sure I wouldn't have got anywhere without the help of all the good people on this website!!

Maureen

They are waiting for an email JC wish genes would tell them this... Oh 4 minutes I'm getting slow lol

jax

Y'know, I'm just getting plain tired of people not bothering to look for / read / acknowledge replies.

Four minutes was too long??