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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Jeanette on Tuesday 01 July 14 04:36 BST (UK)

Title: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Tuesday 01 July 14 04:36 BST (UK)
Researching a divorce between John Watson Veitch and Margaret Stewart Veitch[nee Mcalpine].
They married in 1872 in Dunedin 16 April 1872. No further info on marriage cert.
John Watson Veitch remarried 1885 to Mary Wilson, he then died in 27 Dec 1888.
I understood divorce would be recorded on marrriage cert.
Where do I go to find out info.
Margaret did not remarry until 1917, by then John was dead.
Many thanks Jeanette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Janette on Tuesday 01 July 14 05:06 BST (UK)
Looking at the births online,Margaret may have gone astray as the last 2 of her children have fathe NR,I notice the last 3 children have a second christian name of Johnston,maybe he was the father

1874/47795 Veitch  Elizabeth Watson/  Margaret Stewart/ John
1876/2636 Veitch  Margaret Stuart Farquharson / Margaret Stuart /John
1877/11089 Veitch  Thomas McAlpin / Margaret Stewart /John
1879/9585 Veitch  Christina Johnston/  Margaret Stewart /John
1881/17701 Veitch  Andrew Johnston  /Margaret Stewart /NR
1882/16837 Veitch  Annie Johnston / Margaret Stewart/ NR


Cheers Janette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: giblet on Tuesday 01 July 14 05:12 BST (UK)

North Otago Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1881.
John Veitch, charged on remand with deserting his wife and family at Dunedin, was further remanded unti' to-morrow.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NOT18810104.2.8&srpos=74&e=-------10--71-byDA---2John+Veitch--
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: giblet on Tuesday 01 July 14 05:17 BST (UK)
The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1882.

Mr E. H. Carew, R.M., sat at tho R.M Court yesterday to hear an application by John veitch for a variation in a separation order made in April, 1878, by Mr Watt. Mr Macdonald appeared for the applicant, and Mr A. Bathgate resisted the application on behalf of the wife, Margaret Veitch. After argument on both sides the order was varied the maintenance being struck out and custody of the children given to the husband.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18820208.2.10&srpos=144&e=-------10--141-byDA---2John+Veitch--
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Beg Clonrode... on Tuesday 01 July 14 05:19 BST (UK)
Hello...

It might be worth asking for a look-up of the 1885 ITM. An ITM will sometimes mention a date of when the bride or groom became a widow/widower. Maybe it does the same for a divorce.

Intention to Marry Notice (ITM) 1856-1956
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=494517.msg4544371#msg4544371 (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=494517.msg4544371#msg4544371)

Regards
Beg
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: giblet on Tuesday 01 July 14 05:34 BST (UK)
Save doubling up on info

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=549043.18
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Tuesday 01 July 14 08:37 BST (UK)
Many thanks for replies has been helpful.
Have traced 3 of the children Elizabeth Watson b.1874, Margaret Stuart Veitch b. 1876 and
 Thomas Mcalpine Veitch b.1877.
Any suggestions in tracing
Christina Johnston Veitch b.1879
Andrew Johnston Veitch b.1881
Annie Johnston Veitch b.1882.
Father of these 3 children Christopher Johnston whom she moved to Auckland with and had a further 3 children
Cheers Jeanette

Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: jorose on Tuesday 01 July 14 11:58 BST (UK)
Under the circumstances, I would not be surprised to find the kids just as "Johnston".

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ does show some records of them (seems Christopher did a runner around 1902/3? Did they stay together in the end?)

Here's the marriage of Christina, listed as daughter of Christopher and Margaret and granddaughter of "the late Captain McAlpine":
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0170v/
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Lucy2 on Tuesday 01 July 14 15:49 BST (UK)

Researching a divorce between John Watson Veitch and Margaret Stewart Veitch[nee Mcalpine].
They married in 1872 in Dunedin 16 April 1872. No further info on marriage cert.
John Watson Veitch remarried 1885 to Mary Wilson, he then died in 27 Dec 1888.
I understood divorce would be recorded on marrriage cert.


Hello Jeanette

I thought the names John Watson VEITCH and Margaret Stewart VEITCH (McALPINE), rang some bells.   :D

I managed to find your previous thread (re: Christopher JOHNSTON / JOHNSTONE) where I'd given some assistance with that search and where the VEITCH name crops up also.    (I think two threads on the subject have been merged).

So having read through the previous, I see that it was established that John Watson VEITCH (butcher) had died on 24 December 1885 and was buried with his (and Margaret's) infant daughter (died 29 April 1877), in a shared plot, at the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

[Just incidentally, the 1872 marriage at Dunedin to Margaret McALPIN [sic] records his name only as "John VEITCH", though I think we can be fairly sure (because of the burial with his daughter/ and also his funeral notice) that he was the same John Watson VEITCH who went on to re-marry in 1885 to Mary WILSON. ]

We also have a newspaper record of his formal separation (April 1878) from Margaret.
You may recall (previous thread) that I mentioned that if a divorce between the couple had taken place, then this would be endorsed (usually by way of an official stamp bearing the date of the Decree Absolute), on the marriage record.    But of course the marriage record (certificate) you have, does not record a divorce.

My guess is :     

*  That there was no divorce.

*  That John VEITCH (a.k.a. John Watson VEITCH) in fact committed bigamy when he wed Mary WILSON in 1885 - perhaps not knowingly - but did so on the basis that the formal separation agreement with Margaret (1878), "spelled" the end of that marriage, and allowed him the freedom to re-marry.

Yes, I think a good start is to request an ITM (Intention to Marry notice) for his marriage to Mary WILSON (1885) which may give helpful info.    If not, then a copy (printout) of the marriage record, may shed more light ?

   ~  Lu 
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: spades on Tuesday 01 July 14 20:42 BST (UK)
Hi Jeanette,

I'll get the ITM for you on my next visit to Archives NZ.

Spades
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Wednesday 02 July 14 05:13 BST (UK)
Thanks for all info. Delighted to have found the marriage of Christina Johnston. Will check further on papers past for other children. Has been difficult with no second names and common surname of Johnston.
No Christopher Johnston and Margaret Mcalpine did not stay together, it all ended badly in court, then Christopher took off to Hobart, ended up in prison not supporting children. He died in Hobart at the age of 89. Trouble seemed to follow Margaret Johnston where ever she went.
Cheers Jeanette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: spades on Sunday 13 July 14 23:58 BST (UK)
Hi Jeanette,

Can you tell me where John VIETCH and Mary WILSON married, please? I'll need the location to search for the Intention to Marry notice.

Spades
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Friday 18 July 14 02:38 BST (UK)
Hi there
I believe John Watson Veitch and Mary Wilson were married in Dunedin. I dont have the marriage certificate to be able to be sure.
Many thanks for checking.

Jeanette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: spades on Friday 03 October 14 01:39 BST (UK)
Hi Jeanette,

I'm sorry, but I can't find an Intention to Marry Notice for this couple in Dunedin. Using BDM Historical Indexes online I found that they married on 23 December 1885.

I checked the ITM Register back as far as the middle of October.

Spades

Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Friday 03 October 14 03:44 BST (UK)
Many thanks Spades for your time and effort.

Cheers Jeanette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: SignalHill on Thursday 09 October 14 22:49 BST (UK)
Hi Jeanette

There are three John VEITCHs recorded as Presbyterian Marriages in Otago Southland

VEITCH John 28y   MATHIESON Elizabeth 21y    20 Jan 1890   Limeston Plains   Western Southland
VEITCH John  full age   McALPINE Margaret Stewart   full age  16 Apr 1872     Knox Church   Dunedin
VEITCH John Thomas    29y   WALKER Agnes Fitzroy 29y   3 Dec 1919   Knox Church    Invercargill

I think Knox Church in Dunedin has retained all its Marriage Registers and it should have been sent a notice of divorce to be attached to the Marriage Register

McIvor & Veitch is a longstanding Motorcycle business in Dunedin   Several John Veitch s also appeared in later generations in Dunedin

Signal


Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: Jeanette on Sunday 12 October 14 04:57 BST (UK)
Many thanks Signal
I do have the marriage cert of John Veitch and Margaret Mcalpine. Interestingly the Certificate states they were married at Morningside Dunedin, which was John Veitchs home. He died in 1888 in Dunedin. Very short marriage to Mary Wilson.

Cheers Jeanette
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: SignalHill on Sunday 12 October 14 05:29 BST (UK)
Those days marriage at home was common but the Marriage Registers were kept by churches as they had been for centuries in Europe.  Registry Office Marriage registers were a recent innovation then.
In NZ until quite recently (when  Marriages became loose-leaf) The Primary record was the Church Register and signed copies of that entry were sent on to the Registrar General.   At one stage the Certificates supplied to Churches lines were out of sync with Marriage Registers in use and Ministers who copied material across line by line could get caught out.
Signal
Title: Re: Early Divorces in NZ
Post by: SignalHill on Sunday 12 October 14 08:52 BST (UK)
Have you got these two John Veitches mixed up ?   Both buried in Dunedin Northern Cemetery

Surname   VEITCH
Forename    JOHN
Age    63 Years
Gender    Male
Date of Death    Mon, 7 January 1884
Last Address   DUNEDIN HOSPITAL
Funeral Director   Geddes & Co
Cemetery   NORTHERN CEMETERY
Location   Block 97. Plot 11
Date of Burial    Tue, 8 January 1884
Occupation    LABORER
Place of Birth   SCOTLAND
Date of Birth    Not recorded
Notes   Original reference:- N18840111
Place died:- DUNEDIN
 also in this Plot   THOMSON BABY 12 Hours, Burial, Died 7 Jan 1884

Surname   VEITCH
Forename    JOHN WATSON
Age   48 Years
Gender   Male
Date of Death   Mon, 24 December 1888
Last Address   DUNEDIN HOSPITAL, DUNEDIN
Funeral Director   Cole & Springer
Cemetery   NORTHERN CEMETERY
Location    Block 7. Plot 15
Date of Burial    Thu, 27 December 1888
Occupation    Butcher
Place of Birth   LINLITHGOW, SCOTLAND
Date of Birth   Not recorded
Notes   Original reference:- N18881215
Years in NZ:- 26
 also in this Plot   VEITCH MARGARET STUART F 1 Years, Burial, Died 29 Apr 1877

Signal