This is not an easy one, as far as I know, we do not have any notable criminals or such like in the family trees. This being the case, I decided to look at Isaac Wain (1850-1932), my 2nd great grandfather, a legend because he had 4 wives. This of course was because of necessity, rather than choice.
Isaac's first wife was Lydia Downes, who he married in 1873, age 23, Lydia was 21. She died 3 years later on 1 May 1876. They had no children.
Isaac was a shoemaker and a farmer, he married Mary Sigley in 1877, they were both 27 years old at the time. Mary had 5 children, John died when he was 6 months old on 9 October 1890 and Mary died 2 days later on 11 October 1890.
Isaac now has 4 young children to look after, William, 13, Matthew, 10, Richard, 7 and Isaac, 4.
Isaac's mother is no longer alive, and the 1891 census shows that his father was living with Isaac's sister Eliza, her husband and 2 sons, so probably no room for Isaac and his family to stay there.
In 1891, Isaac married Hannah Hulme, she is 37 and Isaac is 41, and they have 5 children. Hannah died in 1909.
Isaac marries again in 1911, Mary Broadhurst. Isaac is 61 and Mary is 46, the oldest of 9 children and a spinster.
Isaac died in May 1932 his 4th wife Mary outlived him, she died in August 1940.
