Genealogy Chat

Hi, just found out from an old family member that my great grandfather was married twice how would I find out year and details of divorce? Anne-Marie.

he may not have got divorced but 1st wife may have died, sorry if thats no help.

thanks for the reply. He did divorce and remarry and I have been told his ex wife also remarried.

ok. was only an idea, cant help i'm afraid. is there such a thing as divorce records back then?

not sure, but thanks anyway Kind regards, Anne-Marie.

I would start by finding both the marriage details, this will give you an date range to start your search, you can then have a search done at the county court where the divorce took place and the national archives but you must be open minded about divorce in those days as it was very expensive and not everyone could afford to get divorced so lots of people just got remarried without a divorce Roy

Try the National Archives (online). I found some notes on one of mine that had applied to the court for a divorce in 1846. Sheila

having read the last post of divorce in 1843 i'm supprised. i honestly didnt think divorce's were that old. i thought it was just a split that involved the local church etc. but shows you learn something new.

If you can give me a shortish year range when the divorce may have happened, I could look it up at the National Archives for you. It depends when it was though - they don't have the more modern records.

Yummy ..It was rare but it could happen if they could afford to pay for it. Sheila

Hi Ann thanks for the offer. I think he may of divorced somewhere between 1860-70s. I think his first wife was Ellen? Hope this helps. Anne-Marie

As someone has already said, its very unlikely that they would have divorced this far back, unless they were wealthy. H appy to look for you if they were well off! What was his name? and which area did he live in?

A divorce at that time would have been quite a scandal so would have been reported in the newspapers, you may be lucky and find something here. http://www.lightage.demon.)co.uk/ Remove ) Jennifer

Hi Scouse Don't forget findmypast has an online index to Divorce and Matrimonial causes 1858 - 1903, pay to view. Also there is a chance it is mentioned in The Times Online free to view at Bedford Virtual Library, just register. http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/vlib.sh Gail. x

Until 1857, divorce was only obtainable by private Act of Parliament, which is why there are no organised records before this date. My ancestors divorced in 1602! From the time of HenryV111's divorce (the first divorce) until 1857, there were fewer than 400 divorces granted. A shortcut here would be to get his second marriage cert and see what it says - if he was divorced, it will say so, and save you a possibly fruitless hunt for a divorce which didnt take place...he wouldn't be the first! OC

thank you to all those who kindly replied to my message. Best wishes, Anne-Marie.

On Find My Past, Im sure there were some divorces upto 1903.