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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: 3Chant on Friday 02 February 18 14:57 GMT (UK)
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Where will I find divorce records for my ancestor? The divorce of Elizabeth Curtin and Joseph Patrick Curtin may have been in UK or Ireland between 1897-1917 and probably before 1911. I am a member of ancestry but I cannot find any divorce records on their database.
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see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/divorce.htm
Stan
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It is also possible that they did not divorce.
Where did you last have them living on the census :-\
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There are divorce records on Ancestry here :
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=2465
I cannot find anything for your Curtins unfortunately.
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A guide from TNA here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/divorce/
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Are you quite sure that they actually did divorce? Until comparatively recently it would have been an expensive and complex undertaking, beyond the purses of many couples.
Often one or more partner simply moved to another location, and either declared themselves single again, or, especially if they were trailing children in their wake, widow/widower if undertaking another marriage.
It would not often be questioned in another area.
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A guide from TNA here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/divorce/
That is the same site that I gave in my post. #1
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/divorce.htm
Stan.
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Divorce in England and Wales;
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Divorce_in_England_and_Wales
Stan
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Fascinating articles on divorce, thank you .... I've learned a lot from your links!
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Thanks for all your help. I have not got much further but am working on it. I accept that they may not be officially divorced because of cost etc., I am intrigued that Elizabeth Buke Curtin's marriage certificate from her second marriage to Richard Exton 1917 clearly states 'The divorced wife of Joseph Patrick Curtin'.
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Where do you have Elizabeth & Joseph in 1911
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Thank you for our interest. In the 1911 Census Elizabeth is in Trealaw, Rhondda South Wales as a widow (which doesn't make sense as in 1917 she is a divorcee of Joseph Curtin). She is managing a boarding house with her sister, who was definitely a widow. Naturally there is no mention of Joseph Curtin at that address in Trealaw. He is probably back in Ireland. The fields for number of live births etc. is not filled in for either sister on the census form. I don't know if Elizabeth had any children but her sister did.
Elizabeth and Joseph were married in Limerick in 1897. Elizabeth was from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare.
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Thank you :) The live birth column only relates to married women, it would certainly have helped a lot of us with our research if widowed / divorced women were included :)
I don't think that you could get a divorce in Ireland at that time :-\
Sorry but I can't see her earlier than 1911
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I think this is Elizabeth in 1901 at 69 Henry Street, Kilrush, Clare :
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Kilrush_Urban/Henry_Street/1082230/
She is a shopkeeper with 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret.
Birth record for Elizabeth Curtin 23 Jan 1898 at Henry Street , Kilrush ; father Joseph Curtin , shop keeper , and mother Elizabeth Curtin formerly Bourke
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1898/02091/1797364.pdf
Birth for Margaret 1900:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1900/01981/1763273.pdf
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There is a Naturalisation record , in Denver , Colorado , for a Joseph Patrick Curtin , born 10 April 1874 in Kilrush , County Clare. He claims that he walked across the river on the ice from Sault Ste Marie , Ontario , Canada , and arrived in Michigan around 7 March 1907. He could be the right man and may have deserted Elizabeth and his children. Will see if I can find out any more.
Edit - see below , he is indeed the right man ;D
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Joseph Patrick Curtin and wife Elizabeth were divorced in 1915 in Denver , Colorado , case number 50601.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/archives/archives-search
It is not possible to link to the result - you will need to search , using the above link , for Curtin and put 1915 in the date field.
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Brilliant find Christine ;D
Rosie
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Wow! Christine53 thank you so much. I will follow it all up. The 1901 census is certainly her, Agnes Kennelly appears & is known to me. I was wondering if they went to America at some stage as Elizabeth's sister went out there but came back to UK.I am so grateful.