Re; Bigamist 1915

[Gail S]

I am trying to solve a family mystery. My great grand mother Linda Clarke of Market Street, Eastleigh married in 1915. Her husband, a military man was found to be already married and was convicted and possibly court martialed for bigamy and the marriage to my great grand mother annulled.We do not know anything about this man, not even his name, but believe he was an officer in the army. My great grand mother then gave birth to my grand mother Kathleen Clarke 26/11/1915. Are there any newspapers or military sites that we can access to find possible information ? It has intrigued us for years and my grand mother took any thing she knew with her to the grave a couple of years ago. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[groom]

Was Linda Clarke her maiden name? Who is named as father on your grandmother's birth certificate?

[jim1]

Although the marriage was annulled there would have been a marriage certificate issued.
Have you looked for it ?

[groom]

The only marriage of a Linda Clarke in 1915 was this one, so probably not her.

Marriages Sep 1915   
Clarke    Linda M    Ponsonby   
Abergavenny    11a   115

I see that your grandmother was registered in her mother's maiden name.

[avm228]

Welcome from me too.

Which is the correct birth registraion for your Kathleen Clarke? 

There is a Kathleen F Clarke in Christchurch registration district in Dec qtr 1915, mother's maiden name Clarke.

However, an Eastleigh birth would have been registered in South Stoneham district, so I wonder whether she was Kathleen E M Clarke, mother's maiden name Sutton, birth reg Mar qtr 1916 South Stoneham?

Incidentally your grandmother was born on exactly the same day as my late (maternal) grandmother

[avm228]

Also, could you tell us a bit more of what you know about Linda? If Clarke was her maiden name, was she the Linda Clarke born in India on 24 December 1891 to Thomas and Annie?  Older sister Lily Rose born in India 11 March 1888?

Did Linda move to Halifax? If I am looking at the right person there is a possible death there in 1976.

[Gail S]

Wow thank you for the replies. Clarke was her maiden name, she never disclosed her married name. And Francis was my grand mothers  middle name so maybe my grand mother was born in Christchurch, was there a home for unmarried mothers there as my mum seems to think my great grand mother went into a home to have the baby.My brother has attempted our family tree but can only get as far as my great grand mother and then every thing comes to a stop as we do not know who our great grand mother married, she his every thing probably due to the shame she felt back in 1915.

[Gail S]

AVM 228 Yes. My great grand mother was born in India, Linda did move to Halifax and that is where she lived until she died, she never remarried. Kathleen married William Barratt in Halifax and they had three children-Roland (my father), Glynn and Jennifer.

[stanmapstone]

Although the marriage was annulled there would have been a marriage certificate issued.
Have you looked for it ?

Are you sure she got married? As jim1 points out a marriage would have been registered. If she married in 1915, and Kathleen was born 26/11/1915 and just registered with her mothers surname, then there was a very short time for the bigamy to be discovered and the marriage annulled. As Groom says what, if any, is the father's name on the birth certificate?

Stan