sarah littewood birth 1799 yorkshire

[silver12]

Hi all just like other people's thoughts im confused and wonder if im getting something wrong. Sarah Littlewood ( My 4th great gtandmother) born 1799 she marries John Scott  7th june 1824  Silkstone ,Yorkshire, England. They have 3 children charles, Fanny and Martha. Then i find another marriage to a Henry Gill, 23 Jul 1839 West Clayton, York, England. John scott dies in 1873 she marries Henry Gill whilst still married to john and John still alive at time of marriage to Henry. so was this ok to do back in the day marry someone then marry someone else. Also in 1841 cencus Sarah is living with Henry and there daughter Jane Gill aged 5 months and other 3 children Charles Scott 13 Fanny Scott 10 Martha Scott.  if john scott had died before her Marriage to henry it would seem straight forward so just confused. sorry for long post my head is frazzled and thanks fo any feedback

[trish1120]

You will find that people split up and moved on with other partners more often than you would think it those days.
Divorce was expensive so not an option for ordinary working people.

EDIT;
From a bit of googling;

If one party to a marriage disappeared for seven years it was, by the eighteenth century, generally assumed that the deserted one could marry again, though if the errant one returned, the first marriage took priority (as it had to do in the case of Mrs Bell mentioned above). Desertion and bigamy were not infrequent, but prosecutions were rare.

[silver12]

Hi so when re married would she would have to have got a divorce to remarry thank you

[trish1120]

I dont know what their monetary status was but I have added a little more above re 7 years.

I would say it is unlikely they divorced.
Its not like today when we all have such an amount of identification.
She would just say she was widowed or single at 2nd Marriage and would not have to prove it.

[silver12]

Thank you

[trish1120]

Your welcome

It happened in my Tree also.

James left for Australia and family stayed behind.
Will never know if they were in contact and his wife would not go to Australia.
She remarried after 5 years and he didn't for 12 years.

[wivenhoe]

What confirms that this death is your John Scott?

" John scott dies in 1873"

[BumbleB]

You also have to remember that not everyone always told the truth.  I have an instance of a couple marrying in 1850, the wife obtained a divorce in 1871.  She remarried in 1873 as a Divorced Woman, having reverted to her maiden surname.  He remarried the same year as a Widower - and he was a Policeman!!!!

[arthurk]

What confirms that this death is your John Scott?

" John scott dies in 1873"

I was wondering that too - at the 1839 marriage Sarah is described as a widow.