Strange Question about Marriages in 1700s Finland

Virginia Boone

My problem involves Mickel Simonsson b 31 Aug 1733 Jalasjarvi - d 31 Jan 1816 Jalasjarvi and Anna Simonsdotter b 12 Dec 1734 - 15 Jul 1808 Jalasjarvi.

I first researched Mickel's line and found his parents to be Simon Walentinsson and Margeta Johansdotter. Mickel married an Anna Simonsdotter 25 Mar 1752 Jalasjarvi. At first I thought they both just had fathers with the same name. However when I started searching Anna's parents, the same parents as for Mickel came up. The DOB matches with all of the Church Records. I tried researching this so many ways to see if this was merely sister living with brother to help raise the kids, but I can't find evidence of another Anna and they continued having children during the time Anna (who appears to be the sister) is living with him. Her year of birth seems to change to 1728 in the later church records, but still 12 Dec.

So, my question is, were siblings allowed to marry in 1700s Finland?

Norm Baker

There are many things about this that are unclear. One thing is certain: the Anna Simonsdotter who is Michel's wife, is not his sister - that would never happen. At this time in Sweden and Finland, incest was a capital offense! I suspect (but cannot prove) that this is a case of a parish official filling out the Communion record and not paying attention to what he was doing. Somehow, Michel's sister's birthdate was recorded as his wife's birthdate and that was then perpetuated in following Communion records.

I appears to me that about 1791 it was discovered that they had been writing the wrong birthdate for Mickel's wife and it was corrected to the correct year but the day and month were not changed. It is probably pretty likely that she was not born in Jalasjärvi, otherwise, her actual birthdate could have been looked up. Unfortunately, Jalasjävi's birth records begin in 1729 so that can't be checked.

The marriage record for Michel and Anna indicates that he was residing in Köykälä (aka Köykä or Köyckä) and she was in Kivistö. I have checked for her in 1752 in Kivistö but can't find her there. See here: https://en.digihakemisto.net/item/1273221393/5870825659/57.

Virginia Boone

Norm, thank you for putting my mind at ease. I didn't think it could really be siblings marrying but I couldn't figure why it was recorded this way.

I did see the Simon living in Kivisto at the time of Anna and Mickel's marriage but could find no record of Anna in the household.

I'll have to see whatever became of sister Anna.