Genealogy Chat

The law changed in ???? late 1800s, a man could marry his dead wife's sister, but it was not until 1923? that a woman could marry her dead husband's brother! Strictly speaking, yes, it was illegal, but the civil authorities don't appear to have ever prosecuted anyone. As you say, they turned a blind eye. OC

This happened in my family as recently as the 1970s. This was in Scotland and it was definitely legal Terry

O.C. Thank you for that information. As ever I can look to you for the answer. So it was a Church ruling rather than law of the land? I understand about the breakaway churches. We have a chap as a founder member of one in Sussex. It probably helped to enable him to marry his dead wife's sister there, the year after previous wife's death( 1868 ) Gwyn

It was the Church of England who said you couldn't marry your dead wife's sister. Many ordinary folk saw this (marrying your dead wife's sister) as an extremely practical solution to a problem, including their immediate families. There was at least a good chance that the Aunt would be a loving and kind stepmother to her dead sister's children. By the 1860s, the Church had lost much of its clout with people and it was no longer able to punish them in ways it might have done before.Any thundering from the Pulpit would probably have meant the offenders would have gone elsewhere to Church, including one of the many nonconformist Churches that were threatening the supremacy of the C of E so successfully. OC OC

These wre both in London, but one in Lambeth and the other in St Pancras.

Hi Brian These were Sussex folk, who married in Shoreditch, where the brother of the wives lived. The couples returned to their home area soon after though, having children baptised too. Perhaps the Sussex vicar didn't know the family too well?....but the rest of their own family surely knew that they'd wed. Gwyn

Hi Gwyneth, Same as my lot about the same time. I think they just used a different church and kept quiet about it.

Yesterday I found yet another case of someone marrying his dead wife's sister (1860 )..... How did they manage to avoid punishment if it was illegal?... Or did everyone turn a blind eye?..WAS there ever punishment?