Seeking information about bigamous army marriages

[ladynicotine]

Hello

William was serving as a colour Sergent with a Staffordshire regiment.  In 1874 he married Mary, the woman I have on record as his wife, and they had their first child (they went on to have at least6 more).  However, a note on his service record indicates that his wife's name was Sarah.  I've subsequently found a possible marriage between him & Sarah in 1875. 

The first marriage was listed in the Civil index, the second  in the Army index & crucially it is crossed through & has the note "invalided May 1877" attached.  The service record I have for him would appear to be incomplete - there is nothing on there about any disciplinary actions, or about an invalided marriage. Does anyone have any ideas as to where I could find out any more about this? 

Many thanks

Lady Nicotine

[avm228]

What was his surname?

It seems very odd to "marry" Sarah only a year or so after marrying Mary, but continue having lots of children with Mary.  Does he appear in censuses with one or other?

[jim1]

Getting his marriage cert. to wife Sarah will give his rank/Regt. if it's the same man.

[ladynicotine]

His surname is King, which doesn't help much.  I've found him in all the subsequent censuses bar 1881 & he's living with Mary & their children.  I agree it's all very odd, which is why I'd like to try & find out more about it.

jim1 - can you give me any advice on ordering a wedding certificate if I don't have the GRO reference - is the another index I could look in to get this?

Thanks

Lady N

[avm228]

You can order it by entering the Army index info into the Overseas Events order form at GRO Online.

[MaxD]

Could you let us know what regiment you have found him in?  "Invalided" means discharged to pension.  A marriage is invalidated.  The clerks may have used the wrong word but it may be worth other eyes looking at the record you are looking at.

maxD

[josey]

Will certainly take a look but too many William Kings....what is his year & place of birth please?

[JenB]

The marriage to which you refer was to Sarah Cresswell, and it appears on the general GRO Index, not the Army Index. 4th quarter 1875, Medway 2a, 760.

The record to which you refer is taken from 'ADM 183: Order, Discharge and Letter Books, Discharges and Returns'. It shows Color Sergeant, King, William, wife's name Sarah Cresswell, marriage 17th December 1875, Brompton. On the opposite page it says D Invalided 15.5.77
It doesn't say Invalidated. The term D. Invalided appears several times on various pages.

[jim1]

1881: Devizes
RG11; Piece: 2040; Folio: 38; Page: 40
William King   37 Greenwich Pensioner.
Sarah King   31
Ida M. King   11 (actually says 4)
Percy C. King   3
Bertie C. King   2
George King   71 father

Is this them ?