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Marriage Laws - England

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~~Trassle

~~Trassle Report 12 Oct 2007 16:37

My G.Grandfather was serving in France with his brother & asked him to take care of his wife & children if anything happened to him...sadley he died in France 1917 and his brother later married his widow in 1921 obviously once the laws were changed to allow it

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 12 Oct 2007 16:27

One of my direct line married her brother in law in the 1830's.........they had to go to the adjoining county .

Reg

Pete

Pete Report 12 Oct 2007 16:25

Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act 1907

Until 1907 it was against the law for a man to marry his deceased wife's sister. It did happen however, as I found with my own grandfather's parents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deceased_Wife's_Sister's_Marriage_Act_1907

It was not until 1921 that the male equivalent law was passed.
Deceased Brother’s Widow’s Marriage Act, 1921.

Stephanie

Stephanie Report 12 Oct 2007 16:11

Can someone tell me if there has ever been a time it was illegal to marry your husband's brother?

i.e. you get married and several years later your husband dies leaving you a widow. You're still fairly young and decide to re-marry, picking your brother-in-law.

I know in biblical times this was the done thing, but how about in the late 1800s/early 1900s?

Many Thanks.