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Australia / Re: 1895, 1900, 1903 Queensland Electoral Rolls Look up Please!
« on: Wednesday 11 February 09 23:19 GMT (UK) »
Hi Sherry
Common-law marriage did happen back then in Australia. There are a number of reasons that may be possibilities:
Robert was older than Mary and was around 31 when he came to Australia if your 1880 is correct.
Robert may have been married previously and may have been estranged from his wife and therefore unable to remarry unless he divorced or his 1st wife predeceased him.
Robert may have come to Australia ahead of his family with plans for them to follow which did not eventuate.
Common-law marriages also existed where the couple were from different religious backgrounds.
Divorce was uncommon and not really an option for Irish Catholics - not sure whether either party was Catholic but it may be a consideration.
Many couples, particularly where children resulted from the union, lived as husband and wife and the woman took the name of the man to avoid the scrutiny and scorn of the community.
I have a number of these unions in my tree. Some couples never married and several married after the first spouse died.
I hope that helps.
Mary-Ellen
Common-law marriage did happen back then in Australia. There are a number of reasons that may be possibilities:
Robert was older than Mary and was around 31 when he came to Australia if your 1880 is correct.
Robert may have been married previously and may have been estranged from his wife and therefore unable to remarry unless he divorced or his 1st wife predeceased him.
Robert may have come to Australia ahead of his family with plans for them to follow which did not eventuate.
Common-law marriages also existed where the couple were from different religious backgrounds.
Divorce was uncommon and not really an option for Irish Catholics - not sure whether either party was Catholic but it may be a consideration.
Many couples, particularly where children resulted from the union, lived as husband and wife and the woman took the name of the man to avoid the scrutiny and scorn of the community.
I have a number of these unions in my tree. Some couples never married and several married after the first spouse died.
I hope that helps.
Mary-Ellen