Illegitimate birth

[katherinem]

It certainly is an interesting situation

I have found the marriage cert, also the death cert for daughter Catherine aged 3 and ? months in 1904 as well as the birth of Elizabeth Harper Gillespie born illegitimately on 16 Sep 1897.

If you would like to PM me with your email address, I will forward them on to you.

Regards,

Kath

[Silas]

I am wondering if Joseph's marriage to Emily Clarkson might have been annulled for non-consumation - this may explain his carry-on with her sister Fanny and also Emily reverting to her maiden name after Joseph cleared off?  Just a thought.  Was there such a thing as annullment in those days?

[yorkshire liz]

Hello All

I've been following this thread with interest for a while now (better than the soaps onTV) and couldn't resist the temptation to chip in.  From 1858 onwards all divorces and annullments are listed in J77 at the National Archives, which you can search on their website for free, and there is no divorce/annullment for Joseph and Emily Clarkson.

I discovered this after researching a bigamist in my own family, but in his case he didn't go as far as Scotland, just Sunderland.  Back in those days, who would know if a stranger who turned up in town was married or not, and how would you ever find out for sure unless the previous spouse showed up and made a fuss?  The formality of a divorce was only for the rich and well-connected.  In my gt-grandad's brother's case he said he was a batchelor on the second wedding certificate even though I can find his first wife, also remarried with children, still alive on the census.  She remarried before he did and I can't say I blame her, as he served two months in prison for beating up her and her mother;  she had left him after two months of marriage after he threatened to murder her!

All your evidence seems to point to Joseph Clarkson being a bigamist and a rogue, but of course he's not the only guilty party.  I'm sure Fanny must have been aware of the consequences of a fling with her sister's brand new husband before she embarked on it, not to mention the effect it would have on her sister.

Best wishes
Liz

[yorkshire liz]

Oops! Just realised I should have been looking for Joseph Wrigglesworth not Clarkson.  It's past my bedtime.  But I've had another look on the national archives database and there's no divorce for Joseph and Emily Wrigglesworth either.

Best wishes
Liz

[hmpollard]

Thank you, Liz.  There are so many resources that I am not aware of.  I very much appreciate you checking.

I agree, it is like a soap opera, and my grandma loved watching her soapies...  Little did we all know that her father had such drama in his background.

I also think that he just fled to Scotland and then the US, to start over where no one knew him.  I'm just surprised that he had the nerve to come back in 1927 with his family.  I am probably being optimistic in thinking that maybe he made some sort of amends.

Am I correct that Fanny was only about 16 when she had Ellen?  Yikes.

[Silas]

Fanny Clarkson was born in 1878.  Her illegitimate child Ellen was born in 1895.

[smiley56]

Hi All,
Have been following these posts with much interest .Firstly the whole scenario is fascinating reading, secondly Joseph Wigglesworth is the son of  Richard and Sarah Harriet Wigglesworth nee Morris.Sarah Harriet was the sister of my fathers grandmother Mary.Mary and my GG Grandfather William Gledhill came out to Australia in 1883 on the ship Iberia, where William worked in the Glass Bottle Works in Spotswood, Victoria.(Same proffession as Richard)Sarah and Mary's parents were Sarah Lingard and Joseph Morris.Both William Gledhill and Mary Morris lost a parent at ages 44 and 35 respectively.Three years after William and Mary married,their sole remaiming parents married each other! Mary and Sarah's brother John is listed as a step son in the 1881 cenus.Just an additional piece of trivia to add to this amazing story. Living in Victoria I was able to purchase and download the death certificate for Ellen Clarkson Stannard who is buried about a hour from us in Geelong.Interestingly her name on the death certificate has been miss transcribed.It states father unknown Wrigglesworth and mother Fanny Wrigglesworth mn Clarkson.It was great to be able to follow a story through and then look at a certificate.Amazing to read also how you all pieced togeth the jigsaw.Cheers from Australia. Erika.

[Silas]

Hello Smiley.
Fanny Clarkson, who gave birth to Ellen was my grandmother's sister.  Fanny eventually married a George Goodall in 1919.  George Goodall was born in 1875. My maternal grandmother was Lucy Clarkson.  I have been able to track down Ellen's descendants in Australia and am in touch with them.

[onefortheroad]

Hi Silas.

Now that's what I call genealogy !

I bet you really enjoyed it aswell didn't you. What a great story.

Having been through a similar, protracted search (2years+) for my GtGrandma, I know what work you have put in. And the help from others on this marvellous website is priceless isn't it.

I live in Castleford and wondered if you'd found the resting places of those of your clan who may have ended their days in our town. If you let me Know details I may be able to help.

Regards,  David

ps.... if Richard Wigglesworth died in 1929 (2 years after the visit of his wayward son), I think I know where he is.