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Archiver > SCT-ISLAY > 2006-01 > 1137043589


From: "Dougald MacArthur" <>
Subject: RE: [SCT-ISLAY] off topic - please respond directly to me off list
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:26:39 -0500
In-Reply-To: <BFEAB62A.5B8E%cutlerd@shaw.ca>


Oh,....this is just too good

Think about the legal ramifications of tossing out that silly distinction.
Suppose the husband of Peggy McPeevish did a notorious local bim and 25
years later some little bastard shows up wanting his share of the estate,
back support and reparations, etc. etc. There goes poor Mrs. McPeevish's
nest egg.

There are some other aspects of our ancestors to ponder. It is well known
that the staff of various lunatic asylums in 19th century Scotland said the
worst inmates came from the Highlands and the Western Isles because of
centuries of cousin marrying cousin. Knowing the "crazy gene" could be
lurking in any of us with roots in Islay might be cause for mild concern by
a prospective spouse.

Maybe we should just put it all to music. The chorus would be:

"Don't let the bastards,
get you down . Dixie
Even though Uncle Jack,
did a little quickie
It's not sacrilegious,
to be so insidious
But it can get kinda tricky."

Perhaps others out there can come up with some verses and a tune.:-)

Dougald MacArthur



-----Original Message-----
From: Dixie Cutler [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 4:19 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [SCT-ISLAY] off topic - please respond directly to me off list

Hi Sue,
Fascinating question. What sort of responses have you had?

In traditional legal terms, the poor kids are illegitimate (born out of
wedlock) but I wonder if that is true today in case of a "confirmed" union?

Also, can one "legitimize" them by father accepting parentage without a
marriage?

I think, being most certainly the descendant of several bastards, it's a
silly distinction that should be tossed out along with lots of other old
concepts.

Best
Dixie




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