Marrying a first cousin

[Judie Lundgren]

In 1845, Daniel Carlson married Margta Olsdotter at Håkanbo, Hanebo socken, Hälsingland, (Gävleborgs Län). She was the daughter of his mother's sister, so was a first cousin. Daniel used to like to tell the story of how he had to get the King's permission to marry his first cousin.
 
Would it have been necessary to get some kind of approval for such a marriage? I would assume that the King's permission meant permission from the government.
 
Judie

[Chris Bingefors]

Judie
 
Yes, to marry a cousin you had to get permission (or dispensation from the law which did not allow marriage between cousins) until 1845 I believe. This was given by the government (Kungl Majt), ie signed by the King. It was called gå till kungs (go to the King). People who wanted to marry before they reached legal age of consent also had to do this well into the 1970s.