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Author Topic: Unusual entry on marriage certificate  (Read 2553 times)

Offline Darren1

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Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« on: Friday 29 May 20 17:13 BST (UK) »
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

Offline osprey

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #1 on: Friday 29 May 20 17:20 BST (UK) »
it's nothing to do with being German. It means first cousin.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cousin-german
Cornwall: Allen, Bevan, Bosisto, Carnpezzack, Donithorn, Huddy, James, Retallack, Russell, Vincent, Yeoman
Cards: Thomas (Llanbadarn Fawr)
Glam: Bowler, Cram, Galloway, James, Thomas, Watkins
Lincs: Coupland, Cram
Mon: Cram, Gwyn, John, Philpot, Smart, Watkins
Pembs: Edwards (St. Dogmael's)
Yorks: Airey, Bowler, Elliott, Hare, Hewitt, Kellett, Kemp, Stephenson, Tebb

Offline Skoosh

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #2 on: Friday 29 May 20 17:34 BST (UK) »
Called Fritz!  ;D

Skoosh.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #3 on: Friday 29 May 20 17:59 BST (UK) »
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.

Offline Forfarian

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #4 on: Friday 29 May 20 18:59 BST (UK) »
The use of the term cousins german is proof that their mothers were sisters.
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #5 on: Friday 29 May 20 21:26 BST (UK) »
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

Offline Skoosh

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #6 on: Friday 29 May 20 22:20 BST (UK) »
Sorry Darren couldn't resist that!  ;D

Skoosh.

Offline Forfarian

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 30 May 20 12:50 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Darren1 on Friday 29 May 20 21:26 BST (UK)
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.

Quote
I have discovered more cousins marrying cousins than I care for!  :o
I know the feeling!
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Darren1

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Re: Unusual entry on marriage certificate
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 30 May 20 20:14 BST (UK) »
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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