Hi Jennifer The simple answer to your questions is yes. In the absence of affordable mechanisms for formal divorce, it was not at all uncommon for working class folk to simply move on from a "broken down" relationship. Reversion to a previous name was somewhat less usual because of the complications it caused for children (just as it does now), but it did happen. A bigamous marriage was a risky business. Where all parties were aware of and comfortable with the situation, the chances of getting caught were relatively slim and punishment may have been fairly lenient, but simply pretending to be man and wife was a great deal easier and safer. Hope this helps Caroline > > I am struggling to sort my RILEY Family > My questions: > 1. Would it have been likely for Ann Sophia RILEY to have left her > husband > James RILEY and reverted to her former name of CURLINE? Did people do > that > kind of thing in the 1860s? > 2. Is there a marriage for James RILEY and Ann TWEED or could they have > just pretended they were married? Again did this happen in the 1860s. >