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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Darren1 on Friday 29 May 20 17:13 BST (UK)
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Hi all,
Hope everyone is safe and well during this difficult time and at the very least enjoying the sunshine atm! Recently I was doing some research and discovered a marriage certificate of an ancestor of mine, which has an unusual entry written within the column 2 of the Scottish Civil Registration marriage certificate format ('Signatures of Parties; Rank or Profession, Whether single, married or widowed, and Relationship'). My ancestor (Isabella Forrester) married in 1866 in Anderston, Glasgow, and written below her occupation of Domestic Servant is, ' Cousins German'!
I have no idea why this is written here, also to clarify I haven't got a single ancestor on both maternal or paternal side who has been German, plus Isabella's family all originate from Killearn, Stirlingshire and had been there pretty much from when time began! If anyone could elaborate on this bazaar entry it would be great.
Thanks
Darren
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it's nothing to do with being German. It means first cousin.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cousin-german
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Called Fritz! ;D
Skoosh.
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Thanks for clearing this up Osprey, you have to admit it is an unusual phrase (perhaps to today's standards!). That would make sense as both Isabella and her husband, James' mother's maiden surnames are Moir, I was trying to figure out if they were related.
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The use of the term cousins german is proof that their mothers were sisters.
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That's very handy to know. Do you if this term would be used if it was first cousins of two brothers, a brother and sister etc? Or is there a different term?
I have discovered more cousins marrying cousins than I care for! :o
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Sorry Darren couldn't resist that! ;D
Skoosh.
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That's very handy to know. Do you if this term would be used if it was first cousins of two brothers, a brother and sister etc? Or is there a different term?
It's the same term regardless of whethere it is two brothers, two sisters, or a brother and sister.
I have discovered more cousins marrying cousins than I care for! :o
I know the feeling!
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Thanks Forfarian. Skoosh, its all good, I was getting slightly excited that I may have a bit of German in my family, instead just plain old Scottish and a little bit of Irish! ::)
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I have a great uncle who married his cousin on 25th Dec 1873 and it is written on the marriage certificate "Cousins - German".
Their respective male parents were brothers.
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I think the expression comes from French
Cousin germaine. Which means something like associated nothing to do with German !
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We learn something new every day!
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:) :) :)
Mr Google says :
In French : On peut épouser son cousin germain dans le droit civil, et on ne peut pas le faire dans la religion catholique.
Translate into English : In civil law, you may marry your first cousin, but you can't do so in the Catholic religion.
JM
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:) :) :)
In civil law, you may marry your first cousin.
JM
From what a family member told me recently, the first cousins, who married each other, were advised not to have children, and had to sign papers to that effect. Yes, they did go on to have children.
Cheers
KHP
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:) :) :)
In civil law, you may marry your first cousin.
JM
From what a family member told me recently, the first cousins, who married each other, were advised not to have children, and had to sign papers to that effect. Yes, they did go on to have children.
Cheers
KHP
:) :) :)
Mr Google says :
In French : On peut épouser son cousin germain dans le droit civil, et on ne peut pas le faire dans la religion catholique.
Translate into English : In civil law, you may marry your first cousin, but you can't do so in the Catholic religion.
JM
:) :) :)
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JM
[/quote]
From what a family member told me recently, the first cousins, who married each other, were advised not to have children, and had to sign papers to that effect. Yes, they did go on to have children.
Cheers
KHP
[/quote]
An aunt of my grandmother married her first cousin and they went on to have 4 strapping sons plus 2 others who died in infancy. Here they are, the girl in the centre of the picture was an adopted daughter, the child of the lady's sister. This was taken about 1905 I'm guessing and I was at the funeral of the eldest son, who was the last one to die, in 1965 I think. (I was only a babe-in-arms Monica!).
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This was taken about 1905 I'm guessing and I was at the funeral of the eldest son, who was the last one to die, in 1965 I think. (I was only a babe-in-arms Monica!).
;D
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I think the expression comes from French
Cousin germaine. Which means something like associated nothing to do with German !
It's from classical Latin germānus (adjective) 'having the same father and mother'. So saith the OED.