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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 20:34 GMT (UK)

Title: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 20:34 GMT (UK)
Hi - I know this probably sounds silly but can anyone tell me if you have to prove you are a widow if you re-marry?  I have a great grandma remarrying and it shows on the marriage cert that she was a widow but can't find any trace of great grandfather's death? Regards Dimply :)
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: groom on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:01 GMT (UK)
I suppose if they asked if you were free to marry and you said yes they probably wouldn't query it, but it would be a criminal offence  :o :o

If you post his name and what dates you have someone on here may be able to find the death for you.

Jan
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:10 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jan - my great grandfather was called Charles Denton dob 1886 - have him on the 1911 census and their last child was born in 1913.  My great grandmother remarried in 1917 - was she really a widow? :-\
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: carol8353 on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:12 GMT (UK)
No proof was required,nor was it needed to prove someones age.

See the website below it gives you a lot of good info about various certs.

http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/marriages.htm#COL5

Carol
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:14 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jan - my great grandfather was called Charles Denton dob 1886 - have him on the 1911 census and their last child was born in 1913.  My great grandmother remarried in 1917 - was she really a widow? :-\

Have you eliminated the various WW1 casualties in the name of C DENTON listed on www.cwgc.org?
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: AngelaR on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:15 GMT (UK)
If he died in WW1 then his death registration wouldn't be in the 'normal' set. I just had a look at the Commonwealth war graves commission site and there are a few Charles Dentons. Not sure if any fit, but have you seen them?

Added

Just cross posted with avm22 - sorry!
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:22 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the web site link Carol - that will useful :)

AVM22 and Angela - thankyou yes I have eliminated the WW1 casualties :)
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: groom on Tuesday 02 February 10 21:55 GMT (UK)
Where was he born and where was he in 1911 or when the last child was born?

Jan
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 22:03 GMT (UK)
Hi Jan - he was born in 1886 in South Shields Durham and on the 1911 census he is in Northumberland - last child was born in North Shields Northumberland in 1913 but I don't have her birth cert so don't know whether he notified birth
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: groom on Tuesday 02 February 10 22:40 GMT (UK)
Well as far as I can see there is no death on The BMD records between 1912 and 1917 - I checked all quarters and there is no Charles Denton that fits.

Given the dates, I've got a gut feeling that he died in WW1. I'm not sure if all the deaths are on line or if there are still some that haven't been recorded.


Jan
Title: Re: proof of "widowhood"?
Post by: dimply on Tuesday 02 February 10 22:56 GMT (UK)
Agh thankyou for searching Jan - you are right about the timeline - there must be some WW1 deaths that haven't been recorded or put online I really didn't want to think the worst of my great grandmother :)