Bigamy's history of deception and tears
Historical research reveals bigamy in England was built on deception, with harsh punishments like branding and transportation.
Bigamy was made a crime in England in 1604 and was initially punishable by death. Research from the books Double Trouble and Double Lives shows few were executed, but punishments remained severe for centuries.
Convicted bigamists were usually branded on their hands until the end of the 18th century. The early 19th century saw around a quarter of bigamists, 254 people, transported to Australia. Even after transportation declined, prison sentences were substantial. Historian Lawrence Stone incorrectly cited Thomas Hall as receiving a one-day sentence; court records show he actually got four months. Only in the 20th century did shorter sentences become the norm.
The myth of acceptability
Some historians have framed bigamy as a socially acceptable solution. Stone described one case as effectively "divorce by mutual consent" because the first wife agreed not to prosecute for financial support. This suggests a victimless crime in an era without divorce. Cultural depictions, like the 1983 farce Run For Your Wife, often add a comic dimension.
Yet the reality was darker. The central character of that play deceives both his wives. The sheer amount of deception in historical records disproves the idea of acceptability. If it was acceptable, why was deception necessary?
A juggling act
Few bigamists could practically manage two households. It was complicated, tiring, and expensive. One 20th-century bigamist bicycled between families in London but lasted only months. He struggled to maintain both homes on a weekly wage of £2 and seven shillings.
Deception was central. Bigamists, usually men, either lied about their marital status or let others assume they were free to marry. Some hoped for a new life. George Harrower, prosecuted in 1816, had a first wife confined to a lunatic asylum. Benjamin Griffiths, whose wife cheated with his nephew, bigamously married his children's carer in 1847.
Others sought only brief dalliances. John Mase Smith holds a record for the briefest second marriage, returning to his first wife at 5am the day after his bigamous wedding in 1849. The most malicious made a career of it. John Woodgate Kinsella, prosecuted in 1900, 1908, and 1918, used lonely hearts ads to dupe over a dozen working-class women into marriage, stealing their savings.
Avoiding detection
Analysis of wedding locations shows bigamists tried to avoid detection. Very few ceremonies occurred in the same church. Most put significant distance between their two weddings, especially in rural areas. From the mid-19th century, many opted for the greater privacy of a register office. This secrecy explains why so many second spouses were genuinely shocked and distressed upon discovery. The historical record is full of their tears, and those of deserted first wives, contradicting any notion of bigamy as a harmless fix.
