Polygamists of the world, throw off your chains.

[MaineShark]

What's the penalty for bigamy?   Two wives.  Ba-dum-dum!

The plural of "spouse" is "spice"

Joe

[shyfrog]

+1 for Heinlein

[Lloyd Danforth]

In the mid 1800's when so many women died in childbirth, it would have made more sense if one woman had several husbands instead of the other way around.

[KBCraig]

In the mid 1800's when so many women died in childbirth, it would have made more sense if one woman had several husbands instead of the other way around.

And a lot more men died in wars or work accidents (the world being a generally more dangerous place then), so there were fewer men available.

[Recumbent ReCycler]

I'd be willing to bet that children of polygamists spend more time with parents and less (if any) time at daycare centers than children from traditional marriages.  Even if two parents work, there would still be one who is able to stay home.  Domestic chores could be spread out more as well.

[Lloyd Danforth]

In the mid 1800's when so many women died in childbirth, it would have made more sense if one woman had several husbands instead of the other way around.

And a lot more men died in wars or work accidents (the world being a generally more dangerous place then), so there were fewer men available.

First of all there were few wars between 1812 & 1860 in the US.  Regardless war deaths, at least up to the Civil War,  could never have kept up with the women dying in childbirth.  You probably think you have an equal number of men and women in your family history, but, if you go back far enough, there are more men than women.

[dalebert]

Domestic chores could be spread out more as well.

In the interviews I've seen, the women talk about this aspect in a very positive manner.

[Lloyd Danforth]

In the mid 1800's when so many women died in childbirth, it would have made more sense if one woman had several husbands instead of the other way around.

And a lot more men died in wars or work accidents (the world being a generally more dangerous place then), so there were fewer men available.

First of all there were few wars between 1812 & 1860 in the US.  Regardless war deaths, at least up to the Civil War,  could never have kept up with the women dying in childbirth.  You probably think you have an equal number of men and women in your family history, but, if you go back far enough, there are more men than women.

Oops!  I remembered that wrong.  After a discussion with Bill Walked Two, I realized we likely have more female ancestors than male.  It has to do with wives dying, men remarrying, and the man's descendants marrying.
Two of my ancestors who were either 1 st or second cousins married. One was descended from the guys first wife and one from his second. So for their children two  of the, say, 8 great grandparent slots were taken up by the same man.

[Raineyrocks]

Domestic chores could be spread out more as well.

In the interviews I've seen, the women talk about this aspect in a very positive manner.

Really your so right every interview I've seen they do talk about it in a positive manner, there seems to be no insecurities or jealousy, it surprises me.  I guess that's because I've never experienced it.

[Tom Sawyer]

Two of my ancestors who were either 1 st or second cousins married. One was descended from the guys first wife and one from his second. So for their children two  of the, say, 8 great grandparent slots were taken up by the same man.

That explains a lot Lloyd...

When we went to a geneticist before William was born she was embarrased to ask us if we were related.

"Go ahead boy and marry your sister... it was good enough for me and your ma."  

[Lloyd Danforth]

They have recently discovered concluded that birth defects are not all that common when cousins mate.  I've identified close to 1000 direct ancestors and the two I mentioned are the only cousin marriage I can find. I'm guessing it was pretty common when people lived in villages with only a few families.

[Tom Sawyer]

 

I'm sure there are a few banjo boys in my background. 

[Lloyd Danforth]

The great part of being from New England is people don't assume it of your family.  As soon as you start talk'in Kentuckian, many people start thinking its a possibility.
It is really fucked up that for years in Movies and TV, whenever they want to make a character to appear dumb, they give them a southern or western accent.  Except for a couple of near idiots I met in the Army, I didn't have any contact with any southerners, until I was in my twenties.  Then I met this intellectual from Georgia. Gomer Pyle, sans Gollie!, talking smart stuff!  Changed my way of thinking.  Later I learned that for the most part their language patterns were a continuation of what their ancestors came to America with.
Of course most of them still screw their sisters!

[dalebert]

John Stossel did a report on cousins marrying. It was quite enlightening. I was particularly surprised at how often it happens and in how many states it's legal.

[shyfrog]

My G-G-Grandfather married 3 sisters (not his own) and a civil war widow. He migrated to Utah from Maine with one sister and the widow. The oldest sister died and the other didn't like the idea of the wilderness out west.

I descend from the children he had with Betsy Jane, the civil war widow. She already had 5 children when he married her.

The odd thing about his polygamy was that he was practicing it before ever becoming a Mormon.

A lot of the general population can't get past the whole Mormon connection. They have no idea that it was practiced by many other people, of all faiths and cultures, long before Joseph Smith ever got the idea.