LEVITTs from Lackford - COMPLETED

[saworth]

I wonder if someone could unravel me - I have got completely muddled over first/second marriages for Charles Levitt, born abt 1825 in Lackford, Suffolk.  I seem to find him married to a Margaret Prince in Thingoe in 1847- although I haven't got the marriage cert. it seems to be correct from the census returns.  They had a child, Robert in 1848, and on the 1851 Census they are living with Margaret's parents.  Now for the complex part - well for me anyway!  On the 1861 Census, Charles is registered as married to a Harriet and Robert is living with them, along with more children - presumably by Harriet.  Margaret Prince died in 1860.   
I am fairly new to family research and one thing I can't understand is how the process of divorce - which I am guessing happened here - happened in those days.
I could even be barking up the wrong tree altogether.  What I do know is that George Levitt on the 1861 Census is a definite relation, so Charles must be too, as his father.  I can't find a birth for Charles either - would love to be able to go back another generation if there was any chance of finding his parents.
Many thanks, as usual for any help - it is much appreciated

[Necromancer]

Divorce was rare and expensive and I believe needed Parliamentary intervention at that time .....

I cant see a Death entry for Margaret ? Possibly not yet transcribed by FreeBMD ?

All the kids are registered as Levitt, so you need to see if Charles remarried to Harriet in the 'gap years' - one of the later Certs should be obtained to determine Harriets Maiden name.

I note a possible 1854 Marriage, but in Ipswich of a Charles to a Harriet Milborn, which might just fit into the end of the 'gap' in time for Elizabeths arrival !

[CaroleW]

Margaret Prince died in 1860.  

There is a marriage in 1854 for a Charles Levett and there is a Harriet Louisa Milborne on the same page

September qtr 1854 Ipswich 4A 786

[Necromancer]

Charles doesnt have much luck with wives !

In 1871 he's a Widower, so no 2nd chance to check Harriets age and PoB - I noted that in 1861 she stated Lackford, but in 1851, no Harriets admit to being born there !

I think a childs Cert is the way to go to reveal her maiden name - might be the marriage that I spotted and Carole has confirmed ....

[CaroleW]

would love to be able to go back another generation if there was any chance of finding his parents.

www.familysearch.org

CHARLES LEVITT  Christening:  11 JAN 1824   Lackford, Suffolk,
 
Father:  WILLIAM LEVITT    Mother:  ELISABETH 

Margaret Prince died in 1860. 

She would have been registered as Margaret Levett/Levitt

I can't find a Margaret Levitt/Levett death between 1851-1861

The 1861 census has a Robert Levett (indexed as Levott) aged 14 b Icklingham who does not appear on the 1851 census

HARRIET LOUISA MILBORN  Christening:  02 JUL 1837   Saint Matthew, Ipswich  Father:  THOMAS MILBORN    Mother:  LOUISA 

[saworth]

Thank you all for your digging around.  It is great to find the baptism records for Charles Levitt and to then know his parent's names.  I too had come across a Harriet Milborn marriage in Ipswich as a possibility (1854).  Problem I have is that if Charles's first marriage is to Margaret Prince - as 1851 Census shows, on the 1861 Charles is with Harriet and they had Robert (by Margaret) and then there is a George born in 1852.  How did marriages work in these times?  Can only find Margaret Prince death as 1860, which would mean show would still have been alive when these other children were born.  Did people just move on from one partner to another and marry again as if they hadn't been married previously.  There is a strong link to both these marriages, with the first wife still being alive.  Can I just clarify that a birth certificate will show the mother's maiden name?  Sorry to sound so 'basic', but just trying to work it all out really.  Many thanks.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Yes - birth certs do show mothers maiden names

I'm a bit bothered about the 2 x 1861 entries for Robert Levett.  One is the Robert with Charles and Harriet and the other is a servant.  Lackford and Icklingham are very close together but there is only one 1851 entry for a Robert Levett b Suffolk with that birthyear

[saworth]

Sorry for being dense, but can't work out the Robert Levitt servant bit.  In 1861 I have on the census with Charles and Harriet.  I can only find one birth for Robert Levitt, in suffolk too, showing 1848, Thingoe (is that the registration district do you know?).  Thought I would have a go getting this birth cert to verify parents.  Any ideas on why I have two apparent marriages for Charles - definitely on 1851 census, Charles, Margaret Prince and Robert, then all change on 1861 with wives, while first wife still alive.?!

[CaroleW]

The 1861 has 2 entries for a Robert Levett b Suffolk - the one you already know about and this one
RG9; Piece: 1143; Folio: 23; Page: 3 - indexed as Robt Levott b 1847 Icklingham

If you check the image - surname is Levett

Apart from your Robert - there is no other Robert Lev** on the 1851 with that birthyear which makes me wonder if they are the same Robert

Re: Margaret's death

I think you may have to search the full GRO index from 1851-1854 for a death for Margaret.  It may have been missed on freebmd transcriptions or the quality of the image may have been too poor to transcribe

Margaret had brothers so I think the 1860 death may well have been a child born to one of her brothers