Term "brother in law" in 1856?

[bugbear]

2 Couples (bear with me)

Thomas Hale had multiple children in the period 1828-1840. All the (Quaker, Bristol) baptism records state his wife as Sarah Richards. Thomas Hale died in 1856, and Sarah survived until at least 1881.
(I haven't found the marriage)

William Grigg Morris married Frances Emily Francis in 1829 (Liverpool) and they produced a series of children, 1831-1847, in Cheshire, Lancashire. Frances and William are still together in the 1861 census.

Thomas Hale did NOT marry W G Morris's sister, and W G Morris did NOT marry Thomas Hale's sister.

So how come, in Thomas Hale's 1856 death announcement, Thomas Hale can be listed as the Brother in Law of W G Morris?

Am I being dumb? I'm confused.

   BugBear

[bugbear]

Apologies: more information.

in 1834 "Theodosius Morris Hale" was born to Thomas Hale and Sarah Richards.

In 1842 "Frederick Hale Morris" was born to William Morris and Frances Emily Francis.

  BugBear

[avm228]

Have you ruled out the possibility that they were stepbrothers?  The “in-law” terminology was often used in the 19thC for what we would now call “step” relationships.

[bugbear]

Sorry folks - when Thomas Hale's wife was named as "Sarah Richards", it turns out she has TWO given names. Her surname was ... Morris.

Full name: "Sarah Richards Morris".

I just found her baptism.

  BugBear (feeling silly)

[ThrelfallYorky]

Don't feel at all silly .... most of us have made far worse (better?) clangers....

[jim1]

Have to agree. The term "in-law" was loosely used & often implied a step-child.