Hi Corinne   As I understand it, whilst, Britain has always tolerated other religions English Law by default tends to stay close to the rules set by the Church of England.  However, the laws that define a legal marriage in Britain throughout history (at least since the era of Henry the Eighth) are defined by the various Marriage Acts (and related Acts) and are not set by the Church of England.  Some religions may have stricter rules and are free to apply them to marriages within their own churches however they cannot legally apply more relaxed rules (eg polygamy). However some people have always broken the law possibly for religious reasons or more likely for personal reasons.   Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the discussion.    Kind regards Roger   PS  Does VBG mean Very Bad Girl!!! ----- Original Message ---- From: Corinne Thompson <verallen@bigpond.net.au> To: SFHG <sfhg@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, 5 August, 2008 10:10:12 PM Subject: [SFHG] Marriage to sisters in law Hello Listers, Have read all the replies with interest and have noted that all  discussion has been re the C. of  E. and it's rules.  There were  other denominations VBG. Kindest Regards ...... Corinne in Melbourne, Australia. > Thanks to Claire and Eleanor for their contributions. > To summatise the British legal situation after the death of his wife: >     * Before 1835 a man could marry his sister in law . >     * From 1907 a man could marry his dead wife's sister. >     * From 1921 a man could marry his dead brother's widow thus  > restoring the pre 1835 situation. > The law in other countries was different and so between 1835 and  > 1921  couples could marry abroad to get round this legislation (if  > they could afford it) > >  Kind regards > > > Roger > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SFHG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

Marriage slowly became a formalised religious ceremony during the Middle Ages in England, and the Church (originally Roman Catholic, but then Church of England after the Reformation) drew up the "consanguinity rules" which forbade marriage between close blood relatives. This was because such marriages tended to produce deformed (phsically or mentally) children. We now know the scientific causes of this genetic inbreeding. To try and preven this happening the church invented the calling of banns for several weeks before the proposed wedding, giving the local people a good chance to point out if the couple were too closely related. With much smaller local populations, all other things being equal, there was a much greater likelihood of close relations wanting to get married. Eventually the Church's rules were adopted into secular law in the various marriage acts. Ian C > -----Original Message----- > From: sfhg-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:sfhg-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of ROGER RUSHTON > Sent: 05 August 2008 22:57 > To: Corinne Thompson; SFHG > Subject: Re: [SFHG] Marriage to sisters in law > > Hi Corinne >   > As I understand it, whilst, Britain has always tolerated > other religions English Law by default tends to stay close to > the rules set by the Church of England.  However, the laws > that define a legal marriage in Britain throughout history > (at least since the era of Henry the Eighth) are defined by > the various Marriage Acts (and related Acts) and are not set > by the Church of England.  Some religions may have stricter > rules and are free to apply them to marriages within their > own churches however they cannot legally apply more relaxed > rules (eg polygamy). However some people have always broken > the law possibly for religious reasons or more likely for > personal reasons. >   > Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the discussion. >   >  Kind regards > > > Roger >   > PS  Does VBG mean Very Bad Girl!!! > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Corinne Thompson <verallen@bigpond.net.au> > To: SFHG <sfhg@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, 5 August, 2008 10:10:12 PM > Subject: [SFHG] Marriage to sisters in law > > > > Hello Listers, > > Have read all the replies with interest and have noted that > all discussion has been re the C. of  E. and it's rules.  > There were other denominations VBG. > > Kindest Regards ...... Corinne in Melbourne, Australia. > > > > > > > Thanks to Claire and Eleanor for their contributions. > > To summatise the British legal situation after the death of > his wife: > >     * Before 1835 a man could marry his sister in law . > >     * From 1907 a man could marry his dead wife's sister. > >     * From 1921 a man could marry his dead brother's widow thus > > restoring the pre 1835 situation. > > The law in other countries was different and so between 1835 and > > 1921  couples could marry abroad to get round this legislation (if > > they could afford it) > > > >  Kind regards > > > > > > Roger > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SFHG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Not happy with your email address?. > Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses > available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SFHG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >