Thread: Divorce records

Hi,



I wonder if anyone can help?

My husband's grandfather was born in October 1911 and his parents, John Lake (born 1889) and Choice Mason Lewis, married in December 1911-both in West Ham



They then had a daughter in May 1913 in Bromley, Poplar. Sometime between her birth and 1918, Choice left London and went to Great Yarmouth.



We have a birth certificate for a William Thomas, born 1918 in Great Yarmouth, father William Thomas, mother Choice Thomas formely Lewis.



William and Choice had several more children, but we only have 2 other certificates- George b 1920, mother Choice Thomas, formerly Lewis and the youngest child b 1927, mother Alice Thomas, formerly Lake!



We knew she went by the name Alice, because all her grandchildren 'knew' she was called Alice, but because their other grandmother was called Alice, they called her Nanna Choice (but never knew where the Choice came from).



Also her obituaries and memorandums were in the name of Alice Thomas.



I cannot find a marriage for William (Benjamin) Thomas and Choice/Alice Lake/Lewis, nor can I find a death of John Lake. Where would I be able to find divorce records between 1913-1918? My husband's grandfather never spoke about his father, so we don't know what happened to him. Also, would Choice have had to change her name to Alice legally?



Just adding this as just had a Eureka moment! I've been searching the records so long, but I've just come across a marriage of a William B Thomas and an Alice J Lake, 1960, Great Yarmouth! I'm sending off for the certificate tomorrow!



Thank you for reading my epic post! Any ideas would be greatfully received!



Mrsp2008

Why do you think there was a divorce?



And no, you don't have to change your name "legally". Your legal name is the one you choose to be known by. As long as you aren't intending to defraud anyone you can call yourself what you want.



With today's obsession with identity fraud and terrorism its sometimes a problem, but in our ancestors' time not so much. Hardly any of them would have any legal document except a birth or marriage cert that said who they were. No bank cards, passports or driving licences then!

Hi Jeuel,



Thanks for your reply. Divorce was just one of the avenues I wanted to explore as she took the surname Thomas, I'd assumed they'd got married. I ordered a marriage certificate today which I believe was theirs-in 1960!!! So will wait and see what it has down for her.



Would you know what documentation/proof of identity they would have to have taken with them in 1960?



Many Thanks



Mrsp

I guess its the same as it was when I got married - proof that you are over 21 or have parents consent, and proof of address.



They don't ask you to prove you are not already married. But its assumed you aren't as you have to declare there is no reason why you can't be married.



In earlier times it was much harder and more expensive to divorce than it is now, so a lot of people just pretended they were single or widowed.



Perhaps the 1960 marriage happened because the man she was married to died and freed her to remarry?

Hi Jeuel,



Thank you for your reply. We received the marriage certificate today-he was 78 and she was 67!!



He was a batchelor and she was down as widow. What I can't get my head around is that they lived as 'man and wife' for 42 years before getting married, had 4 children, the 1st in 1918 and the last in 1927-why wait that long to get married?!!



Her son from her 1st marriage got married in 1936, and stated that his father was deceased! If that was the case, would she not have been remarried by then? Could she have known he was still alive and lied to her son?!!!



It's all so confusing! I've searched for a death of a John lake b.1889 from 1913-1936 and found nothing-maybe that's why?!!



Would she have to have taken proof of change of name, do you think?



Her name was Choice Mason Lake nee Lewis, but she married in the name of Alice Joyce Lake!!



Any thoughts would be appreciated!



Mrsp2008

[quote name='mrsp2008']



Her name was Choice Mason Lake nee Lewis, but she married in the name of Alice Joyce Lake!!



Any thoughts would be appreciated!



Mrsp2008[/quote]





HI Mrsp2008







Like Jeuel said, you can use any name....but most people only use a different first name.



The middle name Joyce/Choice could have been mis-heard by the registrar. Does she have her signature on the wedding cert.



Also the name Choice seems to be very popular with the welsh people.



with regards



Tralena

There is a public tree on Ancestry. Owner is Stepmar, tree name is Marshall.



It shows Choice Mason Lewis, her siblings and Parents. It also has a very interesting story regarding her Father Richard.



Just a thought....According to Stepmar, Richard lewis was born in Rhode Island USA. I wonder if her father gave Choice the middle name in honour of his home lands and the Mason County.



Tralena

Maybe they married so that she could claim on his pension? Or so that she would automatically inherit when he died?

What did Choice call herself on her childrens birth certs.



Tralena

Hi Tralena and Jeuel,



Thank you for your replies. I've been in contact with the owner of the tree on ancestry. We think that the story about Richard Lewis may be true as we have the original marriage certificate.



We did think that was maybe why they married. Just seemed odd that they never married before! The certificate has been written out, and isn't a photocopy of the original, and so the registrar has signed A J Lake.



Now to search for John's death! May take some time



Best Wishes



Mrsp