Thanks for the elucidation, Linda & Tony. -- Best regards, Peter McNulty peter@sparshott.org.uk www.sparshott.org.uk Researching: SPARSHOTT families world-wide (especially Hants) ----- Original Message ----- From: <Knightroots@aol.com> To: <ENG-HAM-PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 9:31 PM Subject: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] illegal marriage > Hello all > Peter is almost correct since the 1600s marriages between people who were > related in various ways were forbidden by parliament as well as church law. > These were known as The Prohibited Degrees.