?bigamist

[avm228]

This 1927 divorce file looks very promising (I think it's the one you were referring to, but it's 1927 rather than 1929):

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-3136277&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CSIMMONS%2CSIMMONS&accessmethod=0

[avm228]

Marriage cert is a cert. copy of the original, definitely says aged 23 years.

Unfortunately errors can creep in, both in the original transmission of the data to the GRO at the time of registration (assuming it's a GRO certified copy), and in the making of certified copies.

[louisa maud]

If this marriage was in a church it can be checked against original church ledgers or microfilm, unfortunately I can't get to the record office at the moment, snowed in almost

LM

[cathyturner17]

wish it was snowing here, the temperature is unreal at the moment.

Insert Quote
Have you thought about tracing what happened to the children of the marriage to Ethel BRANNAM? I really wouldn't rule out that marriage. The age on the later marriage to Sarah may well be unreliable - either because he lied (as bigamists are prone to) or because the age has been mistranscribed from 33 to 23 at some stage in the record keeping. (Unless it is the original marriage cert that you have?).  All the other evidence points strongly to his being the chap born in 1879.

Have just had a look, can find Doris Ethel Simmons born about 1904 and Sydney Walter George Simmons born abbut 1907 (1911 cencus) mother Ethel Simmons listed as a lodger and working in a factory.  Married 8 years, at the home of Mr Thomas Wimbledon, 29 Penwith Rd, Earlfield.

Looks like our man was fond of the name Sydney (?unusual to spell this way) and his father was Walter.

I can find a Doris Ethel Simmons married to a Frank Lane in Westham, her son could be Leslie F Lane.

So now I am about 95% convinced this is our man!

Cathy

[cathyturner17]

Its a copy of the original entry, very clear.  The ones they provide here in New Zealand aren't nearly as good!

Cathy

[cathyturner17]

When in Wellington at the NZ Archives, I was able to look at some divorce records, are you able to do that in England?  Do they have accessible records?

These were the original books, in the most wonderful smelling rooms of old books, nice and cool, which gave you a sense of "wow".

One of the NZ scandal papers (NZ Truth) used to print divorce court records for anything with a hint of scandal, not sure if they did that in England?

Would be interesting to see what Ethel Brannam Simmons had for grounds for divorce.

After doing a lot more searching this morning, am now 100% convinced that this is our guy.

Cathy

[Boblima]

Dear Cathy turner,

   Your search, have you considered that the fella could have been a WW 1 casualty ?? hence the widows departure for NZ, new world, new life and all that, you could search Commonwealth War Graves site ( CWGC )?

Just an idea.......

Regards,

Boblima

[cathyturner17]

I had thought about that, but it was one story she never told!  And it would have been more plausible than any thing else. 
Especially when the next 3 men (that we no of) were all in uniform.  I did have a bit of a look, but could not see anything that looked like our boy.

I am checking out the divorce records mentioned earlier in the forum as there is something about them that keeps nagging me.

Hope you all had a great Christmas.  Its been very hot down here, so the sudden storm yesterday was actually quite welcome.

Cathy

[Boblima]

Dear Cathy Turner,

 NZ weather !  Yes my sister in Pakuranga, my uncle in Clive, and a girl we know in Christchurch all said much the same...wish were there !!

Regards,

Boblima ( In gloomy, cold,  it's starting to thaw Essex, UK )