Before 1858, true divorce, freeing both partners to marry, was rare and expensive. From 1858 the very poor could sue (for divorce) without payment of fees ‘in forma pauperis’ if they could prove their lack of means. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=53 Stan On 28 March 2011 07:11, Diane Lowery <geminidi19@rabbit.com.au> wrote: > > Hi Listers, > > I have returned to this list after finding that Isabella TURNBULL married her second husband, William VASEY, in 1860 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, using her maiden name. (Cert. shows her as "spinster") Her first marriage to John LOWERY in 1847 was registered in Chester-le-Street and they appeared on the 1851 census with apparently no children.  In 1856 John LOWERY emigrated to Australia and it was thought that Isabella (LOWERY) had died and the record not registered.  How wrong can you be?  What was the situation with divorce back then?  Was it only the wealthy who were able to "pull a few strings?"  John LOWERY was illiterate so probably didn't make contact with any family members after emigrating. He re-married in 1862 in Victoria and the record shows him as being "single." > > I would appreciate some feedback and like to hear from anyone on the list who is researching these families. > > Diane Lowery  (Melbourne) >  ==== DUR-NBL Mailing List ==== > To Post a message to this list send it to, > DUR-NBL-L@rootsweb.com > > ==== DUR-NBL Mailing List ==== > List Web Page > http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/durhamgenealogy/index.phtml > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DUR-NBL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >