Marriages/Divorces - Complete with Thanks

[ostrauts]

Hi,

I've recently been looking over my collection of census records for the Woodbridge family and noticed something I missed.  My Gt Grandfather James P Woodbridge appears at the home of William & Emma Richards as their Grandson.

James' parents were Joseph Woodbridge & Sarah Hall but based on the census record I know now that Sarah's maiden name was Richards.  And on the marriage certificate of Joseph & Sarah is her father's signature as a witness.

Which brings me onto my question(s).  Sarah married Joseph when she was 21 in 1864 so her previous marriage to become Sarah Hall must have been short lived. 

Does anyone have any knowledge or documentation on marriages/divorce in the 19th century?

Many thanks.

[aghadowey]

Did they live in England? if so you can check the index to see if a marriage might have taken place. If you find a possibility then the actual certificate should list bride's residence and her father's name. The you can check the death index to see if a first husband did die before the 2nd marriage.

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

[ostrauts]

Thanks for the reply.  They did live in England in the county of Warwickshire.  I will have a look to see what I can find.

[KGarrad]

Information re Divorces here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/divorce.htm

Presumably, this is the birth registration of Gt Grandfather:

June qtr 1880
Birmingham district     vol 6d, page 98

Woodbridge, James Parker

[Galium]

It is possible that William and Emma Richards did not marry until after Sarah was born.
FreeBMD index shows a marriage in Birmingham district September Q 1859 with William Richards and Emma Hall on the same page.
Sarah and Joseph's marriage certificate should show you a father's name if Emma was previously married to a Mr Hall.

[jim1]

I'm always a bit suspicious when someone puts 21 for an age. In my experience it usually means they're not.
The census has Sarah down as born 1844/45 so unlikely to be a previous marriage.
So it's quite possible Sarah was illegitimate & given the Richards name.

[fizzix]

Sarah's age does appear to be correct as she is with William & Emma on the 1861

RG9/2140
Glebe St, Birmingham
William Richards    Head     46         Coal dealer           Birmingham
Emma                  Wife      43          Birmingham
Sarah                   Daur     17          Birmingham

I can't seem to find them on 1851 

[KGarrad]

Strange, but a possibility from 1851?
Class: HO107; Piece: 2053; Folio: 171; Page: 41
26 Bishop Street, Birmingham

Richards, Emma  Head  Widow  F  37  Licenced Victualler  b Birmingham
Richards, Hannah  Daughter  F  9  Scholar  b Birmingham
Richards, Sarah  Daughter  F  6  Scholar  b Birmingham

[MaureeninNY]

That Emma seems to go on to marry a William WHITEHOUSE-she and the daughters are with him in 1861.

Maureen