Maybe she didn't die in the 1860s. There's a Susannah Gay in the 1871 and 1881 census. Occupation: Annuitant.
Birth year c1816, birthplace Throwleigh. Death registration 1887, district Okehampton.
It must be the same woman, as she's living with a Susan Gay Crocker (niece), who also lived with William and Susannah in the 1861 census.
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William Dunning Brock 1831 - 1873
Re: William Dunning Brock 1831 - 1873
There is an 1898 death registration for a Susan Dunning G Crocker (age 74). She and husband James are together in 1851-1891 census records. So she won't be the wife of William Dunning Brock.Thepastisyourself wrote: ↑02 Feb 2021, 17:13 Susan Dunning Gay married a James Crocker in 1845. The have a daughter called Susan Gay Crocker born 1848
Friday 12 August 1887 - Exeter and Plymouth Gazette
DEATHS: At Providence House, Throwleigh, Mrs Susanna Gay (aged 72).
1871 census: there's a Susan Yeo (age 18) who is visiting Susanna Gay and her niece Susan Gay Crocker. Does the surname Yeo ring any bells? She's a "pauper" in the 1871 census. There's an 1875 death registration for a Susan Yeo (age 23) in Okehampton.
1861 census: Susan Yeo (age 8) is boarding with William & Susannah Brimblecombe in Throwleigh.
1851 census: there is a Crocker family visiting a Yeo family living in Okehampton.
Re: William Dunning Brock 1831 - 1873
Ancestry have this records set: England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1918 Also, The Times Archive have articles covering newsworthy divorce cases 1785-1985. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/archive/?region=global
TNA offers more info: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hel ... s/divorce/
Re: William Dunning Brock 1831 - 1873
I think (although I have seen at least one example in my tree) that marriage to the brother of your deceased husband was prohibited under the 1835 Marriage Act until at least 1907.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decease ... e_Act_1907
I don't know whether a half sibling was treated the same, but if so the marriage in this situation may have meant that it was not recognised as a valid marriage in the first place so with no need for an actual divorce.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decease ... e_Act_1907
I don't know whether a half sibling was treated the same, but if so the marriage in this situation may have meant that it was not recognised as a valid marriage in the first place so with no need for an actual divorce.