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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: DHLB on Monday 19 August 13 10:10 BST (UK)

Title: Two weddings
Post by: DHLB on Monday 19 August 13 10:10 BST (UK)

Charles Cornwell, born 1857 Bury St Edmunds, seems to have married the same woman, Alice Pierson, twice.
Both at Portsea island, Hamps. Once June 1877, the second time June 1882
has anyone an explanation for this? it's intriging me
DHLB

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: Graham47 on Monday 19 August 13 10:19 BST (UK)

A simple case of marriage, divorce and remarriage perhaps, or maybe they married in a registry office first time around and in a church the second?

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: nanny jan on Monday 19 August 13 10:32 BST (UK)

Hi,

Unlikely to be divorce at that time. 

FreeBMD give the name as Charles Cornelius Cornwell for 1877 marriage but just Charles Cornwell in 1882. Have you followed the couple on census records?


Nanny Jan

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: Jebber on Monday 19 August 13 10:34 BST (UK)

I see he was in the Royal Marine Artillery, it is possible the first marriage was without consent of his CO as was required at that time, the second marriage would have been to formalise things and get her taken on strength.

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 19 August 13 10:44 BST (UK)

Marriages of Soldiers: It should be known that by the Queen's regulations for the army the previous consent of the commanding officer is requisite to the marriage of a soldier, otherwise his wife cannot be recognised as such by the rules of military discipline. Although the commanding officer is not authorized by law to forbid the banns or other preliminary proceedings, he may take other steps to check an improvident marriage. From "The Marriage Law of England"

Another post on the same subject http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=619030.0

Stan

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: DHLB on Monday 19 August 13 11:00 BST (UK)

Thanks very much, everyone. The military reason sounds the most likely, I think. I haven't found any trace of a baby whose imminent birth might have speeded up the first marriage.
If he enlisted already married he wouldn't have needed a second marriage ceremony, would he?
DHLB

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: stanmapstone on Monday 19 August 13 11:12 BST (UK)

Apparently a soldier could not marry without his CO's permission as only so many per troop were allowed to be married in the Barracks. So if there was a vacancy then he would have been allowed to enlist.

Stan

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: Jebber on Monday 19 August 13 11:17 BST (UK)

I would think it was a pretty safe bet that he had enlisted well before the first marriage, he was with his mother in Ipswich workhouse in 1871, so enlistment would have probably been at a young age to escape the workhouse.

Jebber

Title: Re: Two weddings
Post by: DHLB on Monday 19 August 13 14:13 BST (UK)

Hi, yes, I knew about the workhouse. I've never satisfactorily traced his father George's death, and as for his grandfather Thomas!
DHLB