James Harmon wrote: > > Hello All, > I've read several messages concerning cousins marrying cousins on the > list and just wanted to make a comment on the subject. > > In some societies, 1st cousin marriages are the preferred marriage, > especially in Africa and South America. You may ask why this is so, > simply the preferred marriage for a male is his mother's sister's > daughter. In these societies, the male did not inherit his father's > property but rather his wife inherited her mother's brother's property. > Males did not inherit anything but titles, only daughters inherited > property. Simply put, you always know who the mother is, but not always > who was the father. This maternal lineage system insured that the > property stayed within the clan and the inheritor was positively > related. Another effect was if there were any defective genes in the > family line, after several generations, the defective lines would die > out. (loosely taken from South American Indians 302, UM) > > Frankly, I'm not ashamed of the 1st cousin marriages within my family, > it is part of my heritage and if it had not happened, I wouldn't exist. > To the best of my knowledge, there are no genetic recessives in my > family line either, maybe the 1st cousin marriages were a blessing after > all.......... > > Sincerely, > Jim Harmon > > -- > Jim Harmon mailto:jharmon@earthlink.net > BROWN-Rowan & Mecklinburg Co. NC>Cobb Co. GA>Calhoun Co. AL > COSTNER-Germany>Lincoln Co. NC>Union Dist. SC, Calhoun Co. MS>West>TX, > OK, CA > DOUGHERTY-Wythe Co. VA, Johnson Co. AL > HARMON-Hampshire Co. MA>Bennington Co. VT>Lincoln Co. TN>Monroe Co. MS > HARRIS-Surry Co. VA> Rockingham Co. NC > HAYLES-Alabama > MIZE-Patrick Co. VA > POWELL-Tallapoosa Co. AL > SLEMP/SLIMP-Wythe Co. VA>Johnson Co. TN > UPCHURCH-Greene Co. AL>MS > > ==== NCORANGE Mailing List ==== > Larry Noah - lrnoah@tripod.net - Listowner - NCORANGE mailing list > Orange Co, NC USGenWeb site is at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncorange > USGenWeb Orange Co, NC Archives site is at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/nc/orangnc.htm I might mention that first cousin marriages are legal in many states. Martha