Hi List I am researching on behalf of a friend who is the grt g/son of George Ashmore LUCAS who came out to Australia abt 1876 with a 'wife' named Elizabeth Grace MATTHEWS. I have not found a marriage record for them on freebmd or QLD records so wonder if they just lived as man and wife. I have slowly been finding info on him and have been quite gobsmacked that George was originally married to a Susannah Woombell 1854 but she she shows up in censuses from 1861 as a widow. I cannot find him in 1861 but have found him 1871 with another wife named Sarah in the Poor Law Union Workhouse in Gloucestershire as the Master & Matron. Now, in 1882 George became a teacher in QLD and today i received his teachers record which sheds a little light on his apparent 'death'. he states that from 1855 to 1863 he joined the 24th regiment of foot then joined the Northamptonshire Constabulary from 1864 to 1869 then became master of the workhouse until abt 1876 which is when he immigrated to QLD. His death record has his parents as James Lucas & Susan Ashmore who's marriage i have found on the IGI. I have also found George living with his father and 2nd wife Ann in Wellow. I would love to hear from other LUCAS researchers from these parishes who might not know that George A actually survived and essentially became a bigamist. I wish there was a way to know if George abandoned his new wife and baby to join the army then either pretended to die or was presumed dead or if Susannah was completely pissed at his leaving and just said he was dead. Although, why reappear 15yrs later in a different county with another wife. He must of wanted to stay dead to Susannah. so intriguing this story.... 2nd wife either dies bet 1871-1876 or he ditched her to run off with Elizabeth b. 1856 who is 20yrs younger than him. I had to laugh at the remarks on his teacher record saying he was a trustworthy and well respected man when he had a huge skeleton hiding in his closet...... any comments/advice etc happily accepted. Regards Heather Macdonald NSW Australia