D

[Paul E]

.

[Little Nell]

Hi Paul,

I believe the term in-law was often used meaning step-..... so son-in-law might mean the son of a previous marriage of either the husband or the wife, depending on the context.  Only related by marriage, there was no blood link.  I would imagine it would be the same for grandson-in-law.  It was more common three or four hundred years ago, only gradually being used for the spouse's relatives.  It literally did mean in law, this person was e.g. the son.  If a man married a second time, he took legal responsibility for any children of his new wife's previous marriage.  A couple of centuries ago, it was rare for a woman to have any say in her own affairs, or those of her children once she married or remarried.

Hope that helps you.

Nell

[Paul E]

.