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Is it possible??

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Charlie chuckles

Charlie chuckles Report 19 May 2006 22:22

In the days of Victorian properness could someone have gotten married again without first being divorced or widowed? I have a seaman that just disappears off the planet and a 'widow' that gets married and 2 children born before that marriage date with the 2nd hubbies sirname!!

Merry

Merry Report 19 May 2006 22:26

It happened far more than today!!! Though if you were law abiding I think you could extract yourself from a marriage if your husband/wife had not been seen for some years (can't remember how many) But never mind that......yes, lots of people either lived together because they couldn't marry because of a spouse still being alive (they would generally pretend to be married and go by the name Mrs and Mrs XYZ).....or they would go to church or reg office and go through an illegal ceremony. I sometimes think this is more likely where one half of the couple was not telling the other the whole truth! Merry

Merry

Merry Report 19 May 2006 22:27

Imagine if you were a woman with a crowd of children and hubby vanishes.......it's get another partner or the workhouse for you.......I know which I would choose!! Merry

Charlie chuckles

Charlie chuckles Report 19 May 2006 22:30

That's true Merry--I know which one I would prefer.. I wish I could find a death though to make it all proper!!! I'm a bit old fashioned aren't I? !!!

Glen In Tinsel Knickers

Glen In Tinsel Knickers Report 19 May 2006 22:55

The timescale for a 'missing' spouse was 7 years,the cost of divorce was beyond everyone bar the extremely wealthy,and the punishment for bigamy was far less than you might have thought(usually a short spell inside). Out of the major towns it was fairly common to see 'wife markets',where a hubby could in effect 'sell' his wife,if the couple agreed to the transaction they were deemed to be available for another marriage.(at least that is what my 'bible' says anyhow). Oh the joy of progress!(?) Glen