We have a joke going on down at the N.C. Archives of why there were so many marriages between first cousins in the early years of our state. Pa plowed with the mule all day, both the mule and Pa rested after sundown. Junior wanting to "court" the young ladies, had to walk every where he went, so usually the first chimney that had smoke coming out of it was where he always stopped...and who lived in that house, of course, his kin folks! So his cousins were his dates, and who he married!