Family

[poppysix]

Hi, I have just recently found out that in 1890 ish a distant relative aged 20 and his sister aged 30 had a child together, I have his birth certificate it only gives his mothers name the fathers is blank but according to several family history sites it is her brother, it appears to have been covered up, if the police were informed in 1890 what would have happened to him. thanks

[Old_Geezer]

No legal expert, but I reckon he'd have been forced to have his sister as "her indoors" for the rest of his natural.

Looks to me as if it was hushed up. Chances are the authorities didn't get the chance to do anything.

Have tried to find something but the date tends not to be covered. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=UK+1890s+penalty+for+incest&t=abpbrowser&ia=web Seems it may have been illegal though.

[hc4361]

Nothing much would have happened to him.

"Incest became a specific offence in England and Wales only in 1908. Before that it was dealt with by canon law, punishable by penance, except during the Protectorate in the 1650s, when it was punishable by death."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3299240/How-incest-slipped-from-statute-book.html

[Peter Pedant]

well the internet tells us - nothing would have happened
as the incest act 1908 regularised - - - a mess

I have to find this incredible as it is only now ( sumptions Reith Lectures ) that one gets the idea of the law does not intfered in this area
IN C19 the Law interfered in all sorts of unthinkable places, men holding hands, abortion , making sure roman catholics didnt hold high office or any office for that matter, defrocking ultramontane vicars who were too close to Rome ( advocating supreme papal authority in matters of faith and discipline.)
enacting the roman bishoprics had no power in english law

that I am astounded that the historians hold that the officials said at that time - o no we doan bovva wiv dat

[MWG14]

Lots of incest in those days in rural areas.

[hc4361]

And in urban areas.