1
Australia / Re: William BARTON, Albion Farm, Woodville, NSW
« on: Friday 22 September 23 23:56 BST (UK) »
My mistake, staplehouse. Transportation to Van Diemen's Land actually ceased in 1853, not 1855.
Anne Tucker/Taylor married William Barton on 24 October 1855. Why did she wait so long after John Taylor's disappearance? The British Government decreed that if a spouse had been left behind in the UK for at least 7 years and they had not heard from their convicted partner, they could remarry without fear of being charged with bigamy. The minimum sentence coincidentally was 7 years. John absconded on 21 October 1848. Anne waited 7 years and 3 days. This would also suggest that the John Taylor who died at Maitland on 20 October 1847 (described as a publican) was not Anne's husband, otherwise she could have legally married from October 1847 onwards.
Anne Tucker/Taylor married William Barton on 24 October 1855. Why did she wait so long after John Taylor's disappearance? The British Government decreed that if a spouse had been left behind in the UK for at least 7 years and they had not heard from their convicted partner, they could remarry without fear of being charged with bigamy. The minimum sentence coincidentally was 7 years. John absconded on 21 October 1848. Anne waited 7 years and 3 days. This would also suggest that the John Taylor who died at Maitland on 20 October 1847 (described as a publican) was not Anne's husband, otherwise she could have legally married from October 1847 onwards.