Mary Copley. Wife of Convict John Copley sent VDL 1840
Good morning
John Copley had a wife Mary, and 3 children.He was baptised in Ecclesfield in 1812. Have no age for Mary
After he left I have looked for her in 1841 census. Could she have gone into workhouse. Could she have remarried or common law marriage.
All help welcomed thankyou
Re: Mary Copley. Wife of Convict John Copley sent VDL 1840
Margaret,
I believe that if a criminal man was taken away from his family and incarcerated for a long period ( or transported) then that was just about the only circumstance where a marriage could be annulled. Therefore it is possible that she could legally remarry, but perhaps in her maiden name.
Can you give us the names and approx birth years of the 3 children please?
Dave
Re: Mary Copley. Wife of Convict John Copley sent VDL 1840
Margaret,
According to newspaper reports, John Copley aged 27, nail maker, resided
at Scholes which is about one mile from Thorpe Hesley and where he stole one sheep
from farmer John Cutt.
Re: Mary Copley. Wife of Convict John Copley sent VDL 1840
Hi Dave,
I agree with you. My 3x great grandfather was transported to Australia in 1834 for 7 years for a relatively minor crime (theft of clothing).
He left behind a wife and 2 young children in Sheffield.
Their marriage was annulled in Australia and they both remarried.
His wife in Sheffield married under her married name but, as a "spinster". It appears they used any name they wanted.
When she died she'd reverted back to her first married name, obviously she didn't like the second husband!