Reginald Boyton (1903 - 1970)

Born 1903 in Stoke, England

Husband of Kathleen (Schroeder) Fell — married 3 Dec 1925 (to 1929) in Greymouth, Westland, New Zealand

Husband of Lavender Alexandra Victoria (Aldred) Boyton — married 4 Jan 1929 in Wellington, New Zealand

Died 1970 at about age 67 in New Zealand

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Biography

Reginald was born in 1903. ^[1] He married Kathleen Schroeder in 1925 ^[2].

Case Heard Behind Closed Doors (From "Truth's" Greymouth Rep.) A novelty for Greymouth was the course adopted by Lawyer W. J. Joyce at the Magistrate's Court recently, when he asked that a case be heard, behind closed doors. Publicity apparently does not appeal, in some cases, to Mr. Joyce — or to his clients — although he is just as anxious on other occasions that the Press representatives should open both ears to his remarks. The case called was one in which separation, maintenance, and guardianship Orders were applied for by Kathleen Boyton against her husband, Reginald Boyton, a fireman on the steamer Waipori. Mr. Joyce said that paternity o£ Kathleen's child would be questioned, and intimate details would be given in evidence. He did not wish to pander to publicity, and therefore asked that the hearing be conducted behind closed doors. It did not take Magistrate 'W. Meldrum more than thirty seconds to grant the desired order. After hearing the evidence, he granted Kathleen separation and guardianship, and debited Reginald with- £1. 10s per.week maintenance, also ordering him to pay £18 past maintenance and £3 3s costs.^[3]

Kathleen Boyton stated that her name was Schroeder before she married Boyton on December 3, 1925, at Greymouth. She had known the accused for about ten months prior to the marriage, she said. She lived in Greymouth with her people, and Boyton was a seaman engaged on one of the boats which came to that port. She kept company with Boyton for a short period, and after being married they both stayed with her parents. In January, 1926, she received £10 from him, according to an agreement he had made, but the following month he deserted her, she averred. Two months later she obtained separation and maintenance orders against him, and received only about £15 under the orders. While Boyton was in hospital in Greymouth, Mrs. Boyton cancelled the two orders on condition that he supported her when he got his discharge, but this he had failed to do. On the last occasion she saw him in Greymouth, she alleged that he assaulted her and used obscene language, and on her instigation a warrant for his arrest was issued. Asked if he wanted to ask his wife any questions, Boyton embarked on a short harangue in which he set out his grievances. "Mrs. Boyton,"' he said, addressing his wife, "the first time I met you you were in a certain condition, were you not?" Mr. Page: That is not relevant. Boyton: Well, all I can say is that I was driven into that marriage. Mr. Page: That is not relevant either. Do you want to ask any questions? Boyton: Oh, well, I have nothing else to say. ... When interviewed by the police, Boyton made a statement. In the course of this he said he was a ship's fireman, and was 26 years of age, and a native of Stoke, England. It Was true he had married Kathleen Schroeder in Greymouth, but it was untrue that he had known her for ten months prior to the marriage. The second time he had gone out with her, he alleged, intimacy had taken place, and he was later told by a mate on his ship that she was in trouble. The result was that he married her. He went away on his ship soon after the marriage, and on his return in February, 1926, he found that his wife had given birth to a son. This caused a lot of domestic trouble in the house, he said, because he considered that he was not the father. He had also heard that his wife had been carrying on with other men while he had been away. That was the reason he had stopped her allowance. In consequence of continued domestic trouble he left his wife the same month he returned. He was present in court when the separation order was obtained, but he had lived with his wife for a short period after that ^[4]

They were divorced in 1929. However, as Albert Edward Boyton, he had already married Lavender Alexandra Victoria Aldred in Wellington ^[5]

BOYTON V. BOYTON. Kathleen Boyton petitioned for divorce against Reginald Boyton, on the grounds of bigamy. Petitioner stated that she was now living in Cobden. She had been living with respondent in the places mentioned’ on the petition and was the mother of the child mentioned in such petition. Her husband committed bigamy, and the person whom he married on the second occasion was present at the Court in Wellington when he was tried for bigamy and had stated that she had been married to him since the date of petitioner’s marriage. His Honour to Counsel: You are trying to prove all this by hearsay. The respondent on his preliminary trial was not bound to say anything. His Honour to Petitioner: Were you present and heard him plead guilty to the charge of bigamy?—Yes sir. Ernest Fell, miner, residing at Greymouth stated he was in Wellington on 27th March of this year and was present in the Court there where respondent pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. His Honour intimated that the decree would be granted on an affidavit of search and non-appearance being filed. This, Counsel said, would be attended to immediately.^[6]

He married Lavender Alexander Victoria Aldred properly (legally, as Reginald) in 1930 ^[7]. He passed away in 1970 age 67 ^[8].

Research Note

There is an actual Albert Edward Boyton in NZ at this time. he married Amy Martha Lee in 1937 , and passed away in 1968 age 66

Sources

1. ↑ A source is needed for this information
2. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1925/10361
3. ↑ SUPPRESSING THE PRESS NZ TRUTH, ISSUE 1069, 20 MAY 1926, PAGE 9
4. ↑ TO BLOT OUT THE PAST NZ TRUTH, ISSUE 1218, 4 APRIL 1929, PAGE 3
5. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1929/456
6. ↑ SUPREME COURT GREY RIVER ARGUS, 19 JUNE 1929, PAGE 8
7. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1930/11129
8. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Death registration 1970/38090