Genealogy Chat

All of henry VIII 's wives were his cousins to some degree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Henry_VIII_of_England But the law was changed to allow him to marry Anne Boleyn as he and already had intermate relations with her sister Mary (resulting in 1 if not 2 children). This made Anne out of bounds to marry Henry as she in someways was considered his sister-in-law.

I don't think that it was the norm, but it was certainly common. I suppose that if you lived in a small community there wasn't the opportunity to meet loads of different people and people married those that were available!! I do have one relly that married his nephew's widow who was 21 years younger than him. How about that for an unusual one??

My maternal grandparents were first cousins and they married in 1919. My mother never mentioned this and I only found out when I started my family tree. I thought it was frowned upon but obviously I got it wrong! Lynne

I have friends who met & married almost 40 years ago, they shared a mutual love of music which drew them together. it wasn't until they were drawing up the guest list for the wedding they discovered they were actually first cousins.

I found 2 ancestors of mine who were cousins - married in December of 1869. It was intriguing when I found both their surnames were the same on their daughter's birth certificate , it set me on a frantic search to find out who they were! All great fun!.

I posted on the 14 February about my GGGrandfather who married his deceased wife's neice... Now I know from Merry's posting (Point 29) it was illegal.... How did they get away with it? Witnesses at the wedding WOULD have known the connection....Guess it wasn't a big thing in those days unless the Vicar knew about it and then made it one! Given the old Groom was taking on a spinster nearing the end of her marriagable years the family were probably glad to get rid of her as she was a drain on their limited income!......Hard times :( Chris

Chris, My 3xg-grandfather married his late wife's niece too!!!! He went to London for the ceremony in 1803. He made things worse by having a child with his wife's niece whilst the first wife was still alive (and they all lived together.....the niece had been brought in to care for her aunt as she was getting infirm - unusual sort of care!!?!?!?!?!) Merry

My word, he must have come from good stock to survive!!!!!!!!!! Merry

I have a marriage to a deceased wife's sister in 1853, when it was still illegal. First marriage in Lambeth, the second in St Pancras. Surely some of the witnesses/family must have realised but kept mum.

just thought i would add to this. my parents are 1st cousins married in 1959. sometime this makes my tree very confusing i can tell you!!