Genealogy Chat

I've just found out that my paternal grandfather was sued for breach of promise when he broke off his engagement with his fiancee in order to marry my grandmother instead. Does anyone have experience of this (I had never heard of it before) and how might I trace records of the action? Both grandparents are now deceased, so have no means of knowing more from them. Thanks for any tips, Darryl

depends on when this happened to some extent

Thanks Janet, I'll follow this up. This happened in Kent in 1928-9, so might be one of the last actions of its kind. I'm hoping for a lurid tale of a woman wronged and vengeful! Darryl

There is a report of a breach of promise action in The Times 1922 involving a McCarthy. Spookily it's a Woolwich in Kent, but it's the WOMAN who is called McCarthy and I'm guessing this is your paternal grandfather's surname? So this can't be the one??? Merry

Thanks Merry, a srtange coincidence indeed! Maybe there is something genetic about being a love rat! Darryl

Maybe she is a relation!! Molly McCarthy from Plumstead! The man was Harry Houghton from Woolwich who worked at the Woolwich Arsenal. Merry

What were all the names involved and are you sure of the date? Interestingly, I have found a case involving the Houghton name in 1915 - are these people related to you: William Houghton and Jasper Arthur Houghton and John Frederick Houghton? It appears to be in Nottingham... I know it's nothing to do with the case you're looking for but is it your family too? Frances

Nice though it would be to claim a link to the troubled Molly McCarthy and the various Houghton folk, I'm afraid there is no connection with my own ancestors. The old local newspaper records beckon on Monday, I'll report back if it turns out grandad really was a scoundrel.

The Breach of Promise Act was not repealed until relatively recently, I guess the 1970's? Certainly in my adult lifetime - and I'm not THAT old! I once bought a box of junk from an Auction and was riveted to find a bundle of papers and letters concerning a breach of promise action here locally in Cornwall. The young woman was suing her fiancee of seven years for breach of promise. He had worked in her father's Hotel and had been 'treated like a son'. Eventually, he moved away, to get a better job, promising to send for her. He did not answer her letters and in the end her Dad got on the train and went looking foir him. He found him married, with a young baby. The Plaintiff asked also for the cost of her trousseau and the contents of her bottom drawer, which she estimated had cost 'nearly thirty pounds'. The Court found in her favour and he had to pay nearly three hundred pounds in damages. A curious part of this was that these two then corresponded weekly for the rest of their lives and from reading between the lines, met up and had a dirty weekend now and then. She never married. I managed to reunite these papers and letters with the family - they were so grateful and amazed as they had had no idea of any of this. Olde Crone

What a great story, my dear Old Crone. The more I learn about this business, the more I think there's the basis for a small book or magazine feature. There must be some people out there who actually went throuogh this process - their first hand memories would be wonderful. I wonder what young people today would think of it all? Darryl