I have a bit of a mystery. I know that men sometimes married sisters of their deceased wives. I have a George Hobden marrying a Jane Gander in 1857. She was born in 1838 in Cuckfield. She died in 1872 leaving 2 children, and he remarried an Ellen Gander the next year. Both Jane and Ellen name their fathers as Henry Gander. I don't see 2 Henry Ganders in Ditchling, so would it be right to assume they were sisters? The 1841 and 1851 Census show Jane living with Henry and his wife Sarah.The 1861 and 1871 Census show Ellen living with Henry and Sarah and no Jane. Sandra
Sandra, It happened quite often, though technically it was illegal, and I think most people saw it as a sensible arrangement. Some clergymen may have had a problem though, which might explain why such marriages often took place in London. This was the case with my 2x great grandfather. He must have known it could lead to family feuds, as the children of the "illegal" marriage were illegitimate, and he tried to cover that in his will where he referred to his children "whether or not born in wedlock". Neal ________________________________ From: sandra moffatt <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, 15 November 2012, 2:55 Subject: [SFHG] Jane and Ellen Gander....sisters? I have a bit of a mystery. I know that men sometimes married sisters of their deceased wives. I have a George Hobden marrying a Jane Gander in 1857. She was born in 1838 in Cuckfield. She died in 1872 leaving 2 children, and he remarried an Ellen Gander the next year. Both Jane and Ellen name their fathers as Henry Gander. I don't see 2 Henry Ganders in Ditchling, so would it be right to assume they were sisters? The 1841 and 1851 Census show Jane living with Henry and his wife Sarah.The 1861 and 1871 Census show Ellen living with Henry and Sarah and no Jane. Sandra ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message