Genealogy Chat

I have just found one of my ancestors was divorced by her husband in 1919 due to her adultery. He was also given custody of their child. Would this have meant that she did not get to see him anymore? Did divorced mothers have any access rights at that time?

In Victorian times it was completely standard practice to give custody to the father and if there was a really good reason he could not be granted custody, then someone else in his family would get the custody rather than the wife. But by the time frame you mention things were not so cut and dried! I have just been looking on The Times newspaper archive and in the early 1920's there are various cases reported where the mother has fought for custody and won. I suppose the fact that there cases were detailed in the paper means that they were quite rare. As to whether the mother saw her children again....I would think that was entirely down to the father (if he had been given custody) Merry

I think that would have depended, as it does now, on the individual merits of the case and of course the feelings of the parents. But adultery (by women) was considered as a very bad thing, and Edith Thompson, who was hanged for her part in her husband's murder, was condemned mainly because she had committed adultery with the murderer, rather than any proof that she had collaborated with him. I think you can look for divorce records in central London. If you put 'divorce' in your thread title you may find some ideas.

Thanks for the info ladies, sorry I have not checked back sooner, kids have kept me busy all day!!!!