there had never been any mention of this "first wife" ever from what i can recall.
Yes, 1897 was not only the first time his marriage to Laura came up, but also the first mention of any prior marriage; not even in 1795 when it's discussed that he was to marry Millicent for her real estate holdings.
i watched the first laura collins story some time ago but from what i can remember she had been l.murdoch stockbridge then l.murdoch radcliffe and was not a collins until she married roger(presumably sometime in the mid-1950's).
I think the characters in the present just didn't know that Laura Murdoch Radcliffe Collins was really Laura Murdoch Stockbridge Collins Radcliffe Collins. Or something.
Also, in an early 1966 ep, Laura is able to recognize Josette from her portrait even though she tells her son she hadn't visited the Old House before.
are there any thoughts/explainations that might help me out here?
Well, considering that Jeremiah's age in relation to Barnabas kept changing (in the present, Barnabas referred to him as middle aged, then in 1795 they were (as you said) the same age, and later in PT Barnabas was said to have been born in 1770 whereas Jeremiah's headstone in regular time said he was born in 1763... ouch!), I can't say I'm surpised that Jeremiah's marital history changed as well. There's even a time when Barnabas mentions his "Cousin, Uncle Jeremiah."
I've always gone with the theory that Jeremiah married Laura when he was very young - maybe sixteen or so. The marriage was a bad one, surrounded by mysterious happenings, and was not really spoken of again. It was a sore subject and Jeremiah didn't like talking about it. That's why it was never mentioned in 1795. It had happened long enough ago that there was no point in bringing it up, and knowing the Collins family, the marriage was kept out of the history books.
I like this.
Laura Stockbridge Collins died in 1785, and Barnabas stated that he first laid eyes on her when he was 10. It's possible that she married Jeremiah between these years. Though it does not explain how Laura would recognize Josette. Ouch again.
Now, as for the age discrepancy, I don't think they ever said Jeremiah and Barnabas were EXACTLY the same age - just that they are around the same age. I could be wrong on that, but I don't recall them ever saying they were exactly the same age.
You've got me. I thought it was stated they were the same age, but I'm at a loss as to where it was. Anybody?