Hi Carole and Listee's The issue of marriage breakdown has been rarely discussed on the list and I raised this topic here few weeks ago . My own thoughts on the subject are' divorce was an expensive process not readily available to the working classes [ read somewhere it was for the wealthy only] From my own family research where a number of marriage breakdowns occurred the partners generally called themselves widow or widower and in your case the woman reverted to a previous name. in mine they both stated widow and widower with her staying in California and he returning to Cornwall. In another of my family I suspect both parties remarried this was back in the 1830's in Cornwall. One of my staffordshire rellies went interstate and remarried there before returning to Staffordshire. Perhaps this was the norm and the family, friends and neighbors just turned a blind eye as speaking up would open an hornets nest. Looking at births in those days a lot of kids were born early- the first child comes anytime the rest take 9 months- so to speak and you have to wonder how successful early marriages were. Perhaps we have a rosier view of our ancestors than the reality cheers denis edwards in 30 degrees sydney