marriage

[chrisdyer]

My ancestor born 1794 - Thomas Clayton 6 children.  The first one was born I think to his first wife who died.  The other five all had Hardman as a middle name from 1825 - 1834 but he did not marry Mary Hardman until 1842.  Was that normal to have children but not be married? They were all baptised.
Thank you

[BumbleB]

For anyone wondering - marriage was Manchester Registration District.

22 December 1842 - Manchester Cathedral
Thomas Clayton - full age, widower, Brewer.  Father:  Thomas, deceased
Mary Hardman - full age, spinster.  No father named.

[louisa maud]

Yes, whilst it wasn't quite "normal" it was quite common, my Gt grandmother had  at least 9 children with my Gt grandfather,  all baptised but they  never married, she went off after about 20 years and married someone else, she had previously been married and he was still alive  after these 20 years, she told a few fibs I think, must have run in the family as another member married bigamously.

Louisa Maud

[Blue70]

Link to the marriage record image:-

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSN1-Z7H?i=662&cat=40069


Blue

[jomcd967]

Hi Chrisdyer,

It's also possible that the first wife was still alive until 1842, they may have married when she passed away. She could have left him, or he left her, or she could have been in an asylum. As Mary was a spinster with nothing stopping her from marrying I would assume that there was a reason that Thomas couldn't marry her before that.

Jo 

[chrisdyer]

Hi Chrisdyer,

It's also possible that the first wife was still alive until 1842, they may have married when she passed away. She could have left him, or he left her, or she could have been in an asylum. As Mary was a spinster with nothing stopping her from marrying I would assume that there was a reason that Thomas couldn't marry her before that.

Jo 
Thank you.  I had never thought of it like that. Very helpful