Did Jane White marry again before first husband died?

[MikeAB329]

I have a circumstance where a person [Jane White] was apparently married for the second time, before her first husband had died!!!
Are there any circumstances which might occur to validate this hypothesis?

Chronological events for Jane White [Whyte].
Census forms for 1841 to 1871 record that she was born abt. 1789 in Bathgate, Limlithgow.
An OPR record of marriage for 4 Jan 1807 in Whitburn to James Turner, a cotton weaver.
Janet Turner, a daughter was born abt. 1811 in Whitburn, Linlithgow. She is recorded on 1841 to 1871 Census forms. [married Peter Wood]
She died 3 Mar 1876 in Whitburn, and her death certificate states that her father was James Turner, cotton weaver, deceased and Mother Jane turner, ms White, deceased.
Peter Turner, a son was born abt 1813, in Whitburn, Linlithgow. He is recorded on the 1841 to 1871 census forms. [married Isabella Miller]
He died 15 Mar 1879 in Whitburn, and his death certificate states that his father was James Turner, cotton weaver and Mother Jane Turner, ms White.

An OPR record of marriage for 20 Aug 1825 in Whitburn, to John Meek, farmer
Jane Meek, a daughter was born abt 1826, in east Whitburn. 1841 to 1871 census records her approximate birth. [never married]
She died on 10 Oct 1919, in East Whitburn. Father – John Meek , deceased and Mother Jane Meek, ms White.
David Meek, a son was born abt 1828, in Whitburn.
1851 to 1891 census forms reflect this birth date. [married Grace Lawson]
He died 5 Sep 1896 in Leith, Edinburgh. Father – was John Meek, farmer, deceased and Mother was Jane Meek, previously Turner, ms White, deceased.

Jane Meek, died 1 Feb 1877 in Whitburn, widow of John Meek, farmer. Her son, David was the informant on the death certificate.
A grave stone in the Old Whitburn cemetery, erected by James Wood, son of Janet Turner [died 3 Mar 1876] and grandson of, Jane White, died 1 Feb 1877 reads as follows:-
Erected by James Wood in memory of his mother Janet Turner who died 3rd March 1876 aged 65 years also his grandmother Jane White who died 1st February 1877 aged 88 years also his brother James who died 3rd October 1847 aged 2 years also his daughter Jessie Turner who died 22nd December 1886 aged 4 years 11 months also his father Peter Wood who died 5th November 1887 aged 72 years and his daughter Mary Jane who died 21st December 1892 aged 20 months. all this is on the main headstone. On the plinth under is: The above James Wood died 15th Mary 1917 aged 67 years also his wife Margaret Roberts died 16th July 1934 aged 79 years


There is sufficient evidence to prove that Jane White, daughter of Peter White and Helen Millar, first married James Turner, a cotton weaver and had two children, Janet turner and Peter Turner. Secondly, she married John Meek, a farmer, and had two children, James Meek and David Meek.

With regards to her two husbands; James Turner, the cotton weaver and John Meek, the farmer
There appears to be only one death record for James Turner where 7s 6d was paid for a Mortcloth on 2 Dec 1826, in the Parish of Whitburn
There are no death records to be found for John Meek.
The problem with the above death record, is that she then married her second husband [20 Aug 1825]before the 1st husband had died [2 Dec 1826]!!!
I am not sure if there are any circumstances under which this could have occurred?

Could anyone advise me, firstly if this circumstance could have occured, and secondly where might the deaths records be found?
regards,
Mike Bridgeford

[AllanMc134]

Mike,
I would suggest that James Turner who died in 1926 is not the same James Turner who married Jane White. A search of the monumental inscriptions for Whitburn area may confirm this James Turner is not the one you are interested in. The lack of a death record for John Meek implies that it would not be unusual for there to be no death record for the original James Turner.

Regards,

Allan

[AllanMc134]

Mike,
I have looked at your post again, and have another suggestion. Lets assume James Turner died in 1925. J The mortcloth record ane then married John Meek in August of that year. As a widow Jane would only have what money James left her, after paying debts. Assume that Jane and James were good Church members. James would be buried with a mortcloth, probably the cheapest one. He could have been buried without one, but as a presumably regular Church attender it would be considered correct that he had one. I don't know if you had to pay 'up front' for a mortcloth, but probably not. Jane's new husband would probably not have been keen to spend his money on his wife's first husband's mortcloth, so it may have taken Jane time to get the money together. The mortcloth record is of when it was actually paid, not when James was buried.
There's no proof of the above, but it does give a possible explanation.

Regards,

Allan