A Peculiar Web of Kinship – 1811

Analysis of the Relationships

The relationships described create a paradoxical and intriguing familial web. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Old Harwood’s Family:
   • Old Harwood had two daughters with his first wife:
     • The eldest daughter married John Cashick, the son.
     • The youngest daughter married John Cashick, the father.
2. John Cashick, the father:
   • John Cashick (father) had a daughter with his first wife. This daughter married Old Harwood and bore him a son.
3. Key Result:
   • The second wife of John Cashick (father) — Old Harwood’s youngest daughter — made a remarkable genealogical observation:
     • “My father is my son”: Because her father-in-law (John Cashick the father) became her stepfather when she married him.
     • “I am my mother’s mother”: She became the mother-in-law of her own mother due to the marriage structure.
     • “My sister is my daughter”: Her sister became her stepdaughter because of her marriage to her father-in-law.
     • “I am grandmother to my brother”: Her brother (via Old Harwood) is simultaneously her grandchild due to her marriage to John Cashick the father.

Historical Context

1. Cultural Significance in 1811:
   • Articles like this would be seen as amusing and intellectually stimulating for readers. They reflect a fascination with peculiar social structures, genealogical puzzles, and familial relationships that defy typical norms.
   • It also underscores how small communities in 18th-century England (like Faversham) could experience intertwined family dynamics due to limited social circles.
2. Life in 1811:
   • The population often lived in close-knit villages, where marriage alliances were more common within the same community. This sometimes led to complex family connections.
   • The storytelling in newspapers catered to the educated middle and upper classes, who would appreciate such intricate familial “oddities” as both entertainment and intellectual challenges.
3. Implications for Historians:
   • Such articles provide insight into how rural and semi-urban families managed inheritance, property, and marital alliances in the 18th century.
   • They reflect not only legal but also social attitudes towards marriage, family structure, and women’s roles within them.

Calculating the Relations

Using modern genealogical terminology:

• Old Harwood’s son (from his marriage to John Cashick the father’s daughter) becomes his grandson-in-law.
• John Cashick the father becomes his son-in-law and also father-in-law to Old Harwood’s eldest daughter.
• The daughter of John Cashick (father’s first marriage) is both stepmother and mother-in-law to Old Harwood’s daughters.

Conclusion

This article serves as a genealogical brainteaser that illustrates the complexities of familial relationships in historical contexts. For modern readers, it offers a glimpse into the humour and intellectual interests of the time, alongside a deeper understanding of 18th-century societal norms and family life.