HOW COULD I FIND OUT IF THEY WERE DIVORCED?

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:25 am

Hi All

I was wondering how I could find out if my GGGrandparents were divorced.

When I found my GGGrandfather John Dunn McDonald's Death Cert, I was surprised to find that he had married again. His "wife" Susan Hendry had dutifully given the name of his first wife Margaret Kay, and his parents.

He died in 1870, and his first wife had died in 1862. His new wife Susan Hendry gave her age on the 1871 census as 35, much younger than my GGGrandfather who would have been 72 in 1871.

I had assumed that he had taken up with Susan Hendry after his wife Margaret had died in 1862. I was wrong, because in the 1861 Census, he is living with Susan Hendry as his wife.

He gave his age on that census as 48, when he would have been 62. Susan has listed her age as 28. His youngest son, my GGrandfather is also living with him, as is Susan's brother. Margaret Kay is living with her youngest daughter in Stirling at that time, almost next door to her other married daughter. She has listed herself as Head, but also as married.

Could my GGGrandparents have gotten a divorce? Is there anyway that I could find out?

Thanks

Sheila

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:32 am

If the date of the first marriage was in 1855 or later, then there should be an annotation on that marriage register entry referring to a subsequent divorce.

If the marriage was before 1855, then you will need to consult the records of the highest civil court in Scotland, - the Court of Session.

David

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 2:24 am

Hi David

Thank for the information.

The first marriage between John Dunn McDonald and Margaret Kay took place in 1822. I can find no record of a marriage between John McDonald and Susan Hendry.

The Court of Session Records. That sounds pretty formidable.

Regards

Sheila

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:49 am

See www.nas.gov.uk/guides/divorce.asp (not working when I posted it.... looks like the site is down temporarily.)

David

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:15 pm

Hi David

Thanks for the info on that Site. It was working when I went into it. This is something that I will have to place on the back burner for awhile. Too bad that the records aren't online.

Thanks again,

Sheila