DOUBLE COUSINS

                  In our day and age, it is the rare individual that never lives more than 100 miles from where they were born.  My husband Craig is the perfect example.  He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and at 18 months of age, moved with his parents and older brother to Lakewood, Colorado.  He went to college nearby in Boulder, Colorado; upon graduating he got a job at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago, Illinois.  We now live just 1 ½ miles from the Illinois state line in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. 

                 My mother, who was born in Kit Carson County, Colorado, and died in Denver, Colorado, lived in her home state except for a short time when she lived in Brownwood, Texas while my dad was at Camp Bowie during basic training for World War II.

                 Since most of my ancestors were farmers, they lived in even more remote circumstances than those living in cities.  Neighbors and friends would gather for school and/or church events, or help each other in times of need like harvest or barn raising.  With a smaller circle to draw from, there was a higher likelihood that those classmates would become suitors, and finally spouses. 

                 Over the years of doing family research, I have found many cases of two siblings marrying two siblings.  I have discovered these marriages in each of the five family surnames I have researched.  The closest in my direct family tree is my LAREW/VANHOOSER lines.  My grandfather, James LAREW married Helen VANHOOSER; James brother Hobart LAREW married Helen’s sister, Golden VANHOOSER.  So, my dad Kermit, and his sisters Lois, Gail and Georgia were double-cousins with Hobart and Golden’s children; likewise, I am double-2^nd cousins with Hobart and Golden’s grandchildren.

                 Coincidentally, James LAREW was a double cousin himself.    James’ father Charles LAREW married Margaret DENBY, and Charles’ brother Chilton married Margaret’s sister Anna. 

                 The most recent double cousins are my sister Kim’s grandchildren.  Her son Micah GAUTIER married Annette PIERCE, and her son Zach GAUTIER married Annette’s sister Jennifer PIERCE.  So, Micah’s three daughters, Elisa, Atlanna, and Ali, are double cousins to Zach’s three sons Micah, Caleb and Jake. 

                 There is one case of 1^st cousins who were married; James CHURCHWELL married his cousin Mona CHURCHWELL.  James was the son of Thornton, and Mona was the daughter of Thornton’s brother Francis.  Thornton and Francis were sons of Thomas and Susan CHURCHWELL.  (Mona was the sister of my grandfather, William Thornton.)   

                 Despite popular belief, it is legal to marry a 1^st cousin, at least in 26 of the 50 states.  Frequently, there are stipulations:  they must be past child bearing age, at least one is infertile, or they have consulted with a genetic counselor.  North Carolina stipulates that double first cousins cannot marry.  

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