Hi list, I am hoping that someone with a better brain than I can help me figure this out. I have a birth certificate of Samuel Bray1 born November 1870 in Sheffield to Samuel and Ellen (late Needham, formerly Holmes)Bray >From this I was able to get the information that I needed to order a marriage certificate for Samuel and Ellen. The marriage was March 1870 in Sheffield between Samuel Bray2, bachelor aged 27 and Ellen Bray (widow) aged 35. His father is Samuel Bray (deceased drayman) and her was Henry Holmes, coal miner. I think Samuel Bray2 may have been the one in a birth certificate for September 1844 - Sam Bray, son of Samuel Bray3 and Mary Bray formerly Kenyon. He was born in Fulwood. It appears that Mary Kenyon Bray died quite young and that Samuel Bray3 may have remarried. I say may have because although I have a certificate I am not sure if it is the same man or not. The certificate is for a marriage of Samuel Bray (widower), son of Robert Bray, Age 57 and Ellen Needham (widow, daughter of Henry Holmes, coal miner. Ellen was 35 or 36. They lived at Nursery Lane in the Sheffield area. I cannot make out clearly the name of the town or village. The marriage took place in 1863. So my question is: Was it possible for a man to marry his step mother and does anyone have any suggestions on how I can confirm whether Sam Bray2 and Samuel Bray3 were actually son and father. I know that the 2 Ellens reported the same age in both occasions but it would be one heck of a coincidence for them to be different people. I look forward to any advice. Dianne Alberta Canada www.broadyancestry.com