Divorce Records

[dragonlady403]

Hi - I am trying to locate someone in my tree who has proven elusive! 

I am hoping to obtain more information about his whereabouts from his divorce records (yes I am sure there was one).  He was married in NZ 1886 and his (ex) wife remarried (legitimately - there was a tiny matter of bigamy in-between) again in 1899 - also in NZ.

I understand the final divorce records for this time period would be in Auckland because the divorce had to be finalized by the Supreme Court...

Could someone assist with 1) are those records available (online?) 2) How can I obtain access to the information?

As always - I appreciate any assistance anyone can offer.
Regards, Carol

[Johnf04]

Have you searched on Archway?

https://archway.archives.govt.nz/

Separations and divorces were often reported in the newspaper.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

Note: I have asked the moderator to shift this query to the correct topic. now moved 

[dragonlady403]

Hi, John - thanks for the followup. 

Yes, I searched both PapersPast (which I use quite a bit actually) and the Nat Archives (which I don't use a lot because I'm not typically successful when I do).

At that time - I would have thought divorces would be published somewhere so have been a bit surprised I haven't been able to locate any records for this.

Regards, Carol

[Janette]

Hi Carol

If it's not too sensitive,would you like to post the name here and we may be able to help you further,

Cheers Janette

[dragonlady403]

Hi, Janette - no it's not overly sensitive.  It would sure be helpful to figure out more about this guy... I have purchased three Nz death certs and none have proven to be him.

As per his marriage cert to Emma Jane Oakley in 1886 (he claimed to be 21 yrs old and born in Liverpool, Lancs. 

Marriage cert said his father was Henry Morris a mariner.  Mother Elizabeth Wheatley.  I think I found the correct family in the UK on 1871 and 1881 census.  He disappeared after that which makes sense b/c he shows up marrying Emma in Dunedin in 1886.

There are at least three other Henry Morris's in NZ around that time (hence the dud death certs.).  Emma and her family all lived around the Masterton area. 

Emma subsequently married a Julian Godden, but forgot to divorce Henry so that was annulled.  But I can't find any divorce records for either that marriage or the one for Henry who is the person I am trying to track. 

There is a possibility he went to Australia to "work in the mines" as per family hearsay... but I've been unable to find any travel records for that possibility.

Only other nugget I have is that when Henry Morris died he left something for his daughter Ellen May but I haven't been able to locate a probate doc either  --I'm seriously starting to doubt my research skills:(

The three death certs that are NOT him are for 1911, 1920 and 1935 all in NZ which was a bit disappointing.
Regards, Carol

[Lucy2]

As per his marriage cert to Emma Jane Oakley in 1886 (he claimed to be 21 yrs old and born in Liverpool, Lancs. 

Marriage cert said his father was Henry Morris a mariner.  Mother Elizabeth Wheatley.  I think I found the correct family in the UK on 1871 and 1881 census.  He disappeared after that which makes sense b/c he shows up marrying Emma in Dunedin in 1886.

Hello Carol

If there had been a Divorce in the case of Emma Jane OAKLEY and Henry MORRIS, married 1886, then the copy of the marriage certificate (or printout of marriage record ), whichever you have, would be endorsed with the date of the Decree Absolute.  [This is usually in the form of a stamp on the original document, with date inserted. ]   

So if this doesn't appear on your copy of the marriage record, it means simply, there was no divorce. 

   ~  Lu

[minniehaha]

Part quote from reply #4...

"Emma subsequently married a Julian Godden, but forgot to divorce Henry so that was annulled"

An annulment of marriage is a legal decree that a marriage is null and void.Annulments are granted when a court makes a finding a marriage is invalid. While a divorce ends a legally valid marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as if it never existed.

Should you perhaps be looking for an annulment document?

[1886/475   Emma Jane   Oakley   Henry   Morris

1888/2289   Emma Jane   Oakly   Julian Henry   Godden]


Minniehaha.

[sparrett]

 
There is a possibility he went to Australia to "work in the mines" as per family hearsay... but I've been unable to find any travel records for that possibility.

Only other nugget I have is that when Henry Morris died he left something for his daughter Ellen May but I haven't been able to locate a probate doc either  --I'm seriously starting to doubt my research skills:(

 

Hi Carol,
Can you expand on this?
The child was daughter of Emma Jane? Correct?

What is the source of this information?

The assumption would be he had some knowledge of her whereabouts or at least some kind of ongoing connection with her.

Sue

[sparrett]

Gold was being discovered in Queensland in the late 1880's.

Have you looked for him in Australia as you say he may have moved there?

What was Henry's occupation in the parts of his life you know of?

Sue