A relative by another name!!

[Northerngirl]

Second opinion welcomed.

I have found the death certificate of my gggg grandmother who died in the 1870's.  Her death is registered by a man described as her 'grandson in law'. 

The family she was living with in one earlier census were described as her daughter, son in law and their own child (who was the man registering her death).  However, I've done some further research and this 'daughter' is most likely her niece.  It is not her daughter but likely her niece from her husband's family. This would make this 'grandson in law' her grand nephew in law. 

Any opinions on this curiosity.

J.A

[joette]

I think that people were a lot more formal in their relationships long ago & it was not seemly for a youngster to address an adult by their Christian name -hands up all those with Aunties/Uncles who are in fact 2nd cousins or even friends of the family?
It may refer to the relationship they had perhaps his Mother was raised by this Aunt & she became like a Mother & then a Grandmother.No blood tie on her part just that of marriage to her husband.
It was common for relatives to raise nieces,nephews & not necessarily because of death either.If one sibling had more money,more space the parents health was poor the parents both had to work,companionship when children had left home or other myriad reasons then the children may have been reared by other parents.