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Archiver > Bristol_and_Somerset > 2000-09 > 0967826539


From: "JohnO" <>
Subject: Legal Marriages
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 17:42:19 +0100


Jill points out (as below) the possible confusing
relationships:

"But if you think about it the consequences for the next generation are not
so simple. Children from the first marriage would be both 1st cousins and
step-siblings to the those of the second."

In one of my families at the turn of the 18C I have two unmarried
brothers. The older marries a young widow and the younger brother,
in time,marries the widow's daughter. The re-married woman now becomes
step mother to the younger man and also his mother-in-law.
The younger brother has married his step sister. What a shemozzle!
The redeming feature lest the whole thing become a Feydeau farce
or a Restoration comedy, is that only the younger son has children.

One aspect that has always puzzled me is why the younger couple waited
so long to marry. Both families were very well to do (the daughter was
a fairly considerable heiress)so poverty was no explanation.They eventually
married when they were 30 and 27 respectively and with 5 illegitimate
children. A further 4 came after marriage.

The 5 illegitimate ones were all baptised(I think, but can't confirm this,
for the second time) together some 9 years after the parents married
and a year after their father's death. It is interesting that the parish register
has a note that the birthdates were supplied by the uncle and not the
mother. Perhaps because the uncle was also the lord of the manor,
the rector and held the advowson - the priest knew on which side his
bread was buttered !

Any thoughts or suggestions as to the delayed marriage?

John Overholt
Kingston upon Thames,Eng



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