It may come a surprise to some people to hear that, yes, civilly in Ontario, you can consider your uncle’s son or daughter, as a spouse! (and your aunt or uncle for that matter!) It is against the law to marry your parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, or someone under sixteen.

But the question arose when Christina Travis wrote to us about Solomon Johns and Susan Johns. She writes:

“The family stories available on your website say that the relationship between Susan and Solomon is unclear. Census records show that she lived in his house and later married his nephew (also a resident of his house), which seems like a hint in favor of them not being closely related. However, this attached marriage record from the Catholic Church of Marmora/Madoc shows that Solomon is the father of Susan, and so the marriage between Susan and the nephew William Hilton, had to be cleared in Rome with a special dispensation because they were first cousins, which was considered "ex copula illicita." That may clear up the mystery for researchers.”

tHE HOME OF SOLOMON JOHNS and Susan Mooney, with niece, Sarah Mariah Bleecker

And so it still is today, that yes, in the Catholic Church, first cousins can marry if the diocesan bishop grants an appropriate dispensation. The church's position is that two first cousins are forbidden to marry only by ecclesiastical law, not by divine law. For this reason it is canonically possible to receive a dispensation that permits two first-cousins to validly marry in the Catholic church. (This assumes, of course, that it is legal under civil law in the area in which the marriage is to take place).

For more on Susan and her husband, CLICK HERE

For more on other Johns family members, visit our family files. CLICK HERE