How long before Death could be assumed?

[Romilly]

Many thanks Jebber, - that is exactly what I was looking for!

Best Wishes, Romilly.

[lordb]

A further question please, If the spouse remarried would there be a comment on the MC other than 'widow' ?

[Romilly]

No, - I have the Marriage Cert for Mary Dyer and George Holman in East Grinstead in 1855, - and it just says 'Widow' for her.

Bearing in mind that she married William Dyer in 1846, their son was born in 1847, and she didn't marry George Holman until 1855... I'm guessing that she had to wait for 7yrs.

HTH, Romilly.

[lordb]

Thanks Romilly

[Romilly]

I'll post it here, - just to clarify.

Romilly.

[jbml]

I have wondered for some time about the transportation situation. If someone just disappears and isn't seen for 7 years, that makes a lot of sense. However, if the spouse is known to exist, but be out of reach for an inordinate length of time because of something like transportation, allowing a remarriage would be a de facto divorce, surely?

I suspect the reasoning will have been along the lines that "By the time you have been here 7 years, your spouse back home will have been entitled to obtain a judicial declaration that you are presumed dead. They will probably do that. So let's assume it ... and let you get on with creating a new life for yourself right away.

Pragmatic? Certainly! Reduces the number of children whose parents die before they are of full age ...