Some of them were religiously devout, Sandra. But actually it has emerged on some of my other lists that it was common for people to run off and remarry. Probably less common in Chester County because people were more religious, and families were established in the area, everyone knew everyone, and it was alot harder to get away with it. More common in cities and the midwest to west. My great grandfather just walked into the JP with his new bride and said he was divorced. People didn't have to present proof much of anywhere. This was in Boston. Can you imagine him trying that in London Britain township and getting away with it? Probably happened more often in Philadelphia. ;) Yours, Dora Smith Austin, TX [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra Ferguson" <[email protected]> To: "Dora Smith" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:21 AM Subject: divorce Vs bigamy >I don't really believe that bigamy was a common occurrence at any time in >our history.......regardless of how 'hard' it was to get a divorce......our >ancestors, in the main, were heavily influenced by their religious beliefs >and more law abiding that folks are today. Most lived an insular life, >well known by their neighbors and friends, and would certainly not have >risked the wrath of their church or meeting, or arrest. These were times >when people were publicly chastised for fornication......bigamy was >certainly a worse 'sin' than that, I'd think. Of course, someone could, >technically, pull up stakes and move to an area where they were completely >unknown, and profess oneself a widow, but I really don't think it would >have been a common occurrence. > > Sandra > >> Yes, it was common for one spouse to run off, and even remarry without >> benefit of divorce, as divorce was difficult to get and people didn't >> have >> the resources or want to be bothered. >