Inbreeding. Have You Been Surprised By What You Have Found Out?

[wheeldon]

I'm not that interested in my dad's side of the family, as I never really knew them but I thought I'd have go.  I quickly gave up when I received the certs - far too many Patricks and Whitmores all married to one another.  I honestly could not make head nor tail of it - I'm sure some weren't legal or healthy.  We all have the correct amount of fingers and toes, which is quite surprising.

I think I will wait until I have some time on my hands, in about thirty years or so, to start researching them again.

[Leanne68]

I have also noticed that when a woman died in childbirth it was not unusual for the widowed husband to marry his dead wife's sister. 

The topic of widowers marrying their sister-in-law and widow's marrying their brother-in-law was discussed recently on a mail group ...but no conclusive answer was reached.

I've done a little research and it appears that it became illegal under civil law in the UK in the 1800's.  Does anyone know what/if the Church of England adjusted their church law?

 

[Guy Etchells]

Ecclesiastical law has changed a number of times on the point of consanguinity.
Early law restricted marriage to those outside the seventh degree, this was later relaxed to the fourth degree.
The 99th canon of the year 1603 adopted the table set out by Bishop Parker in 1563.
Until the passing of the Act 5&6 Will. IV. ch 54 such marriages were voidable but action had to be taken to render them void and any issue bastards.
After the above act all marriages within the forbidden degrees were void.
Cheers
Guy

[stonechat]

I have one line in my family descended from the Staffords of Eyam, one of their marriages was dissolved on the grounds of consanguinuity, and they were only third cousins!

Bob

[linmey]

How long ago was that Bob?

[CJ]

I have just found on my husband's line (not direct).  Within a family there were (amongst others) 2 brothers and 1 sister.  The sister had (amongst others) 2 daughters.  Each of these daughters married a son of each of the mother's brother.  Ie first cousins.  The strange thing is that these marriages took place in the 1890s and one of the families had moved away from the area a couple of decades before!

On a more medical note.  I used to work in the radiology department of the local hospital.  We had a lady come in in late pregnancy, whose previous pregnancies had resulted in severely malformed infants that died soon or after birth.  This pregnancy did the same.  When it was looked into, it was found that her parents were cousins who had married and her husbands parents were also cousins that had married.  What compounded the matter was that they were also brothers and sisters.  ie 2 sisters married 2 brothers who were also cousins and then arranged a marriage for their offspring.  Which resulted in them having a few disastrous pregnancies.  Doesn't bear thinking about.  This was in the late 1980-1990s

CJ

[stonechat]

It was 1317
See Genuki's Pages on the Staffords of Eyam

http://www.wishful-thinking.org.uk/genuki/DBY/Eyam/Stafford/EyamRichardIV.html

Bob

[jinks]

I have a few 1st cousins marrying in my line as well
as second cousins.

My Great great Grandfather married twice to
sisters. His first wife died, and supposedly she
asked him to look after her younger sister.
(Think the marriage was before change of law)

The marrying of cousins, I do not think was shunned
in my family, but it was an open secret
(i.e. All the Family knew and approved but they
did not divulged to outsiders)

Some of my Earlier Ancestors were Quakers in
a small community so to marry someone that
was not related probably would not have been
possible. If you married a non quaker you were out.

I know a few Muslims (British) and most marry
1st cousins , that are arranged by their respective
parents. I have had this explained by them and
had different reasons one was to do with sect
i.e. the surname dictates what sect you belong too
so the choice is someone with the same sect
and the other was that a parent when choosing a
partner, chooses someone they know, respect
and can trust  to marry their son/daughter.

Many Muslims marry abroad (the marrage is not
recognised in Britain) they then remarry at a
registry office.

Jinks

[clairenorman39]

Suprised - more horrified!
My Gt Grandparents were first cousins on my fathers side.
I also descend twice from the same Gt Gt Grandfather - cousins marrying again.
On my mothers side - I descend three times from one GT GT GT GT Grandfather - firstly cousins married (two of his sons children respectively) and then their daughter married another one of the sons son. Complicated I know.
And thats just the tip of the iceberg - I have cousins and uncles and aunts all marrying and as you can imagine - i have one of the most confusing trees ever.
Claire