On Tuesday, 3 December 2013 00:15:48 UTC+11, Peter J. Seymour wrote: > This is possibly a well-known subject. I am puzzled by a particular > > instance where a migrant having married in the UK and again in Western > > Australia when the first wife was still living is clearly evident in the > > documentation available today. It is nothing to do with a seven year > > rule as the person was only in Australia for about one year before > > remarrying. > > > > Can anyone help with suggestions for possibilities of documented divorce > > or "setting-aside" of marriage that might apply? Additionally, could > > anyone comment on whether this could have been considered "standard > > practice" at the time. > > > > Thanks. Peter I saw your referene also to W.A and dates to 1919, and had a similar quest, quite a coincidence in fact,social conditions in W.A at that time -during the rush for gold-meant that some men lacking a social conscience just moved on..some from UK and elsewhere had already escaped social conditions at home...see http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/finlay.html.Table 2 on that site lists dates Divorce law requirements for Aust.States - it wasnt easy, especially for women! -we followed the English model of course, and the 'Parliamentary Divorce' was the term used for terminating marriage after 7 years of no contact -presuming death. But bigamy was common, I searched through Trove.com for our ancester but finally found a W.A remarriage of his deserted wife 30 yrs later, the certificate stating she had complied with the Marriage Act -husband presumed deceased (though he was not, and had married twice more).PS Your ancestor wasn't Smith I don't suppose?

On Friday, 6 December 2013 02:12:49 UTC+11, Di Allen wrote: > On Tuesday, 3 December 2013 00:15:48 UTC+11, Peter J. Seymour wrote: > > > This is possibly a well-known subject. I am puzzled by a particular > > > > > > instance where a migrant having married in the UK and again in Western > > > > > > Australia when the first wife was still living is clearly evident in the > > > > > > documentation available today. It is nothing to do with a seven year > > > > > > rule as the person was only in Australia for about one year before > > > > > > remarrying. > > > > > > > > > > > > Can anyone help with suggestions for possibilities of documented divorce > > > > > > or "setting-aside" of marriage that might apply? Additionally, could > > > > > > anyone comment on whether this could have been considered "standard > > > > > > practice" at the time. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks. > > > > Peter I saw your referene also to W.A and dates to 1919, and had a similar quest, quite a coincidence in fact,social conditions in W.A at that time -during the rush for gold-meant that some men lacking a social conscience just moved on..some from UK and elsewhere had already escaped social conditions at home...see http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/finlay.html.Table 2 on that site lists dates Divorce law requirements for Aust.States - it wasnt easy, especially for women! -we followed the English model of course, and the 'Parliamentary Divorce' was the term used for terminating marriage after 7 years of no contact -presuming death. But bigamy was common, I searched through Trove.com for our ancester but finally found a W.A remarriage of his deserted wife 30 yrs later, the certificate stating she had complied with the Marriage Act -husband presumed deceased (though he was not, and had married twice more).PS Your ancestor wasn't Smith I don't suppose? Sorry bout that link, http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/finlay.html is the correct one.

On 05/12/2013 15:12, Di Allen wrote: > Peter I saw your referene also to W.A and dates to 1919, and had a similar quest, quite a coincidence in fact,social conditions in W.A at that time -during the rush for gold-meant that some men lacking a social conscience just moved on..some from UK and elsewhere had already escaped social conditions at home...see http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/seminars/finlay.html.Table 2 on that site lists dates Divorce law requirements for Aust.States - it wasnt easy, especially for women! -we followed the English model of course, and the 'Parliamentary Divorce' was the term used for terminating marriage after 7 years of no contact -presuming death. But bigamy was common, I searched through Trove.com for our ancester but finally found a W.A remarriage of his deserted wife 30 yrs later, the certificate stating she had complied with the Marriage Act -husband presumed deceased (though he was not, and had married twice more).PS Your ancestor wasn't Smith I don't suppose? > No - sorry. I am not giving the name as there are living people I don't know not far removed from the subject.