Applyin for a marriage licence for a new wife before your existing wife is dead.

[David Boulding]

I have the interesting case of Robert Boulding of Godmersham in Kent who loses his wife in 1732 when he has a whole handful of very young children, the youngest aged just 2 years old. Naturally he probably needed a wife to help with the children after his wife's death and in Jun 1732 he married Elizabeth Ladd exactly a year to the day of his wife's burial on June 5th 1733.

So far so good. But then later that very same year Robert in 1733 Nov 18 Robert Boulden applied for a Licence to marry Sarah Mount (whilst still married to Elizabeth). His second wife, Elizabeth, was buried three weeks later on December 6 1733 and so was almost certainly still alive when Robert applied for the Licence.

1732 Jun 5                               bur Hester Bolden [1st wife]
1733 June 5          Robert Boulding wdr & Eliz Ladd widow [2nd wife]
1733 Nov 18        Marriage Licence: Boulden Robert & Sarah Mount [3rd wife]
1733 Dec 6                    bur Eliz wife of Robert Bolding [2nd wife]
1734 5 Dec Robert Boulden of Godmersham & Sarah Mount widow [3rd wife - actual marriage]

Maybe it was possible to apply for a Marriage Licence for another wife with an existing but terminally ill wife? The actual marriage took place a year after the licence was applied for.

Robert inherited from his short marriage from the 2nd wife.

Elizabeth Bolden als Ladd A Act 1734 PRC22/24/208 [2nd wife of Robert]
April 1st before Henry .... Adm of the goods of Elizabeth Bolden late of Godmersham deceased was committed to Robert Boulden husband of the said deceased being first sworn to administer the same bound with him John Booth and William Ellott both of Cant. pipemakers in £200
2nd April 1734 before John Frances.

[sillgen]

Could this be a muddle of dates with the old calendar?  The start of year changed in the mid 1700s but many transcriptions fail to recognise that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates

[David Boulding]

I don't think so. I did consider that option very carefully but none of the months are in the "grey area".

The marriage licence is dated Nov 1733 and the actual marriage took place on Dec 1734 (a year later). I suppose it could be a simple matter of a transcription error for the marriage licence?

[jonw65]

The marriage licence is dated Nov 1733 and the actual marriage took place on Dec 1734 (a year later). I suppose it could be a simple matter of a transcription error for the marriage licence?

Where are the details of this marriage licence from?

[groom]

I didn't think that a marriage licence was valid for a year.  The bridegroom had to swear a declaration that no impediment existed for the marriage to take place, how could he do that if his wife was still living? 

[David Boulding]

From the printed Marriage Licence book.

[David Boulding]

I read somewhere that a marriage licence "lasted" 3 months.

[stanmapstone]

From "The Marriage Law of England" 1873

[David Boulding]

That's what I'd read somewhere - but thanks for the confirmation.

But would they permit a marriage licence with the existing wife still alive if terminally ill? I can't help thinking that's improbable. As it was the application for the licence was in Nov 1733 and the marriage took place in Dec 1734 just over a year later - so it would have expired by then - and presumably it then became a standard marriage.

The other possibility is that she has died on or before Nov 18 1733 and they didn't bury her till December 5th. Also unlikely to wait 3 weeks before burying her. Either way it would show unseemly haste.

My feeling is that the licence must be incorrectly dated 1733 and ought be 1734.