My 3x G Grandmother 'the Bigamist' question

[Josephine]

What a fascinating story!

Did Josiah have lots of money, by any chance? 

Or was this a cheapie "divorce"?

The possibilities are endless! 

Regards,
Josephine

[Pilgarlic]

Yes Josephine the possibilities are indeed endless. It is hard to fathom who was the instigator in this farce 

According to the Warwickshire County Records Office website, the trial records of the Assizes in the Midlands area before 1869 were destroyed by a clerk.   


Pilgarlic

[alexnlp]

So this is an old thread... but Josiah Mercer living in London in 1881 is my 3xg granduncle, and I'm intrigued to know if he is the one embroiled in this case or not!!
In 1851 he was a tailor living with his brother in Barnacle in Warwickshire aged 23, which would make him 21 when the bigamy took place. 
Do any of the accounts of the case include details of his age or profession?

[Pilgarlic]

Hello alexnlp

Yes, Josiah Mercer (a Tailor) born America who is living with his brother William in Barnacle is the same Josiah who married my Eliza Bolton nee Bushell. He is indeed living in London in later censuses. Same as my Eliza.

I have the marriage record of Eliza & Josiah. They married at St Peter & Paul, Aston, Warwickshire, and Josiah states that he is a bachelor age 21 a Tailor from Duddeston. He names his father as Joseph Mercer a Tailor. This matches the 1841 census info.

I have found some newspaper reports of the case. They state that the 2nd husband was Josiah Mercer. None of them state Josiah's age or profession etc. I have not read any court record's of the case if they exist ?

I have not been able to trace the 1st husband (My 3x G Grandfather) William Bolton after the 1851 census.

Interestingly my Eliza is known as Eliza Bolton alias Mercer on a record i have found dated 1897 !

[alexnlp]

Oh my goodness!
Yes, that's definitely my Josiah.  He was born during a visit to his Uncle John Cooper Bindley in Pittsburgh. His cousin - also John Bindley - was a pillar of Pittsburgh community and on charitable committees with Heinz and Carnegie, so I'll bet the family kept that all very quiet!! 
I suspect that Josiah was being 'rusticated' near his aunt Martha Randall in Barnacle.
It looks like Josiah died in Christchurch workhouse in 1910.
Thank you for adding a particularly colourful chapter to my family history   

[Pilgarlic]

I am glad i was able to confirm to you that your Josiah was the same man.

Thanks for the further info on Josiah and his family. Very interesting. I often wondered why Josiah was born in America.

Yes Josiah was in the workhouse in the 1901 census. My Eliza also died in the Workhouse in London 1906.

It makes you wonder if they knew eachother both lived in London or kept in touch after the bigamy case ?

Pilgarlic

[Greensleeves]

How interesting that this fascinating story has been resurrected.  I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all the posts, and knowing that there is more info available about Josiah's past!