John Dixon..Marries two sisters..1851 ?

[stapler40]

Hi there:

Found a strange one involving some family members. John Dixon, b: 1851, first married Agness Garner, b: Liverpool 1948, in St. Mathews 1871. In 1872 the first child is born, Mary Jane Dixon. However, in the 1881 census, a John Dixon, window blind manufacturer, appears in Toxteth with a wife named Mary Jane, a daughter named Mary Jane Dixon and a son named John Dixon. I have the 1871 marriage certificate and it shows John Dixon marrying Angess Garner. Now Agness Garner did have a older sister, named Mary Jane, born 1843.

So my question is what happened here? I have found a death index for Agness Dixon, died 1875 in Toxteth. Is it possible that John remarried the elder sister of his dead wife? Problem is that I can't find a marriage certificate between a John Dixon, window blind manufacturer, and a Mary Jane Garner, after 1875. The son, John, born 1877 has a birth certificate showing a Mary Jane as his mother.

Additionally, I can't find this John Dixon in the 1891 census. I have found a death index for a MAry Jane Dixon in Toxteth, 1888. So where are John Dixon, the window blind manufacturer, his daughter MAry Jane and his son John, in 1891.

A very confusing case, please help.

Cheers

Stapler40

[mshrmh]

LancashireBMD has marriages for John Dixon:
1871 Agnes Garner at St Michael, Toxteth Park
1876 Mary J Garner at St James, Birkdale

The latter is on FreeBMD as June quarter 1876 Ormskirk 8b 1037 - she is given as Mary Jane Garner

[avm228]

It was unlawful at that time for a man to marry his dead wife's sister (the law was changed in 1907).  However it was not uncommon. Perhaps this was why the second marriage took place in a different parish (where possibly the family was not known)?

[Radcliff]

St James Birkdale
3rd of April 1876
John Dixon,aged 26.window blind maker,widower of Birkdale
Mary Jane Garner,aged 33 spinster of Birkdale
grooms father John Dixon,window blind maker deceased
Brides father Thomas Garner ,currier
witness to marriage
John Burrows and Caroline Sawwyer,

noted Mary Ann was the witness at the first marriage and the father is again a currier named Thomas

[stapler40]

Thank you all so very much for clearing that mystery up. Wow, marrying your dead wife's sister...interesting.

Again, thanks..You folks are tops

Stapler40

Toronto

[Thudnut]

Hi Stapler40.

I know this thread is a few years old, but this is the first time I have seen it.  John Dixon and Mary Jane Garner are my Great Great Grandparents.

How do they fit into your tree?
Thudders

[Radcliff]

Stapler is still active so hopefully picks up your reply

[Rosinish]

marrying your dead wife's sister...interesting.

Possibly a similar scenario to this;

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jjl/

Understandable.

Annie

[Thudnut]

Thanks Radcliffe.

Here's hoping!

Thudders