Genealogy Chat

Hello could anyone tell me how to find out if a divorce took place between 1934 and 1954? as my grandfather remarried in 1954 when as far as I can find out he was not divorced from my grandma.

My grandma was admitted into the Abergavenny mental hospital in 1934, was discharged in 1956 and readmitted voluntarily in 1959.

How would I find this out please.

Her name was Ethel Hobbs, born in 1899 and her husband was George Henry Hobbs, born in 1899, they married in May 1920.

if anyone could throw some light on this would be much appreciated?

Kind regards Julie

The 1954 marriage cert should say whether or not the groom's first marriage had been dissolved.

He would have had to produce a Decree Absolute to back up the statement.

Purely for info

Marriages Jun 1920 (>99%)

Hobbs George H Rogers Chepstow 11a 15
Rogers Ethel W Hobbs Chepstow 11a 15

sThe survival rate of divorce case files is:

1858-1927: almost 100%
1928-1937: 80%
After 1937: less than 0.2%

Case files are now destroyed 20 years after the divorce. Within this 20 year period, you can apply to the relevant court for permission to see the file. You can search surviving case files from 1858 onwards by name in J 77. The original indexes are in J 78.

The only record of those cases where the case file has not survived would be the decree held by the court. Contact the Central Family Court for more information.

National Archives - https://tinyurl.com/yd5gddat

Household (1 Person)
Mental Hospital , Abergavenny R.D., Monmouthshire, Wales


Ethel W Hobbs Patient ? ? 1900 Female Domestic Duties Unpaid Married 1 513


Hobbs Household (3 People)
Crick , Chepstow R.D., Monmouthshire, Wales

George (H) Hobbs 01 Jan 1899 Male General Labourer Married 110 1
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
Bessie (G) Hobbs (Huddy) 14 Jan 1897 Female House Keeper Married 110 3

What is his status on his 1954 marriage certificate? If Widower, & as his first wife was still alive, then he may have entered a bigamous marriage.

???????????

Marriages Dec 1942

Hobbs ..George H ..Hodge ..F.of Dean .. 6a 779
Hodge ..Bessie G ..Hobbs .. F.of Dean ..6a 779

Hi Thank you to everyone for the information. However I do not have a copy of the marriage certificate in 1954 so would not know George Hobbs status, I just wondered if it was allowed for a marriage to take place when the first wife was in a Mental Institution? Mnay thanks Julie

Marriages Mar 1954

Hobbs George H Hodge Chepstow 8c 442
Hodge Bessie G Hobbs Chepstow 8c 442


Is this the same couple as married in 1942 ??

If you get a copy of the cert you will be able to stop wondering

Any 'marriage' when the first wife is still alive and no divorce has been granted is bigamous

Wonder why Bessie called herself Huddy in 1939?

EDITED

See below for explanation

Births Mar 1897 (>99%)
Hodge Bessie Georgina Tavistock 5b 357

OK..........

Marriages Jun 1924 (>99%)
Hodge Bessie G Huddy Exeter 5b 221
HUDDY Ambrose O Hodge Exeter 5b 221

Marriages Dec 1942 (>99%)

Hobbs George H Hodge F.of Dean 6a 779
Hodge Bessie G Hobbs F.of Dean 6a 779

Deaths Mar 1948 (>99%)
Huddy Ambrose O 54 Exeter 7a 388


1939
Huddy Household (4 People)
29 Elmside Exeter,Gordon Road , Exeter C.B., Devon, England


Ambrose O Huddy 01 Jan 1892 Male Disabled Ex Service Pensioner Married 23 4
Louisa Huddy 08 May 1854 Female Incapacitated Widowed 23 1
Ellen A Huddy 19 Sep 1887 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Single 23 2
Dorothy L Huddy 10 Sep 1889 Female Chemists &optician Clerk Single 23 3

First name(s) Ambrose O
Last name Huddy
Year 1914-20
Service number 2696, 200990
Second service number 200990
Rank Private,Private
Second rank Private
Regiment Devonshire Regiment
Second corps Devonshire Regiment
Service record Soldier Number: 2696, Rank: Private, Corps: Devonshire Regiment
Second service record Soldier Number: 200990, Rank: Private, Corps: Devonshire Regiment
Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D2988386
Country Great Britain
Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Archive reference WO372/10
Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
62, Victoria Street, Exeter, Devon, England

Mary Hodge Head Married Female 43 1858 Brampford Speke, Devon, England - Transcription
Francis W Hodge Son Single Male 17 1884 Princetown, Devon, England Engine Cleaner Transcription
Florence M Hodge Daughter Single Female 14 1887 Princetown, Devon, England - Transcription
Louis H Hodge Son Single Male 11 1890 Princetown, Devon, England - Transcription
Herbert G Hodge Son Single Male 9 1892 Princetown, Devon, England - Transcription
Alice P Hodge Daughter Single Female 7 1894 Princetown, Devon, England - Transcription
Charlotte M Hodge Daughter Single Female 4 1897 Princetown, Devon, England - Transcription
Bessie G Hodge Daughter Single Female 4 1897 Princetown, Devon, England


First name(s) Bessie Georgina
Last name Hodge
Birth year 1897
Birth date 14 Jan 1897
Baptism year 1897
Baptism date 19 Feb 1897
Denomination Anglican
Baptism place Princetown
Father's first name(s) Walter
Mother's first name(s) Mary
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 5720A/PR/1/4
Record set Devon Baptisms

Is this your grandmother's death?

First name(s) ETHEL WINIFRED
Last name HOBBS
Gender Female
Birth day 29
Birth month 9
Birth year 1899
Age
Death quarter 2
Death year 1980
District Pontypool
County Monmouthshire
Volume 28
Page 0971
Country Wales

First name(s) BESSIE GEORGINA
Last name HOBBS
Gender Female
Birth day 14
Birth month 1
Birth year 1900
Age
Death quarter 4
Death year 1981
District Newport (Monmouthshire)
County Monmouthshire
Volume 28
Page 0198
Country Wales

Whoever registered the death got her birth year wrong

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
1, Olave Square, Exeter, Devon, England
Learn more


Henry Huddy Head Married Male 43 1858 Exeter, Devon, England Carpenter Transcription
Ellen Huddy Daughter Single Female 13 1888 Exeter, Devon, England - Transcription
Dorothy Huddy Daughter Single Female 11 1890 Exeter, Devon, England - Transcription
Ambrose Huddy Son Single Male 7 1894 Exeter, Devon, England

Hello Gwyn

Not sure what you mean by is this the same couple as married in 1942 ? thought it was 1954? very strange! many thanks Julie

They obviously 'married' in 1942 - then 'married' again after Bessie's legal husband died.

The info is posted above

You need the 1954 cert - or you'll be forever wondering........lol!

Hello Erika

Yes that is my grandma's death in 1980.

Sorry not that clever when it gets involved like this, appreciate your sending the information but not clear as to why she would use the surname Huddy in 1939 as far as I knew her maiden name was Hodge when she married my grandad looking at the records!? can you enlighten me please? sorry about this.

Now need to find the correct marriage cert to see if he indeed was a bigamist

many thanks Julie

I posted the record of her marriage to HUDDY - see above

He didn't die until 1948

There was lot of misinformation going on.....................

You've been given all the info you need to order the 1954 cert.............

Here's where you can do it............

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/app_select.asp