Well, it was a kissin’ cousins mystery.
In a small town, lived Marcella Hill, a 42-year-old woman who believed she had found her prince charming. After dating for a while, Marcella became pregnant with their child. As they settled into their new life together, they spent an evening on the couch, browsing the internet for baby names, excited for the future that lay ahead.
As they scrolled through various websites, they stumbled upon FamilySearch, a genealogy site that allowed them to explore their family tree. Hoping to find some inspiration for their baby’s name, Marcella began to examine the names of her grandparents and great-grandparents. Little did she know, her world was about to turn upside down.
While comparing her family tree with her husband Tage’s, they noticed something peculiar. Their grandparents had the same names, and as they investigated further, they discovered that their grandfather was the same person. This revelation meant that Marcella and Tage were, in fact, first cousins.
Marcella decided to share this shocking story with her 300,000 TikTok followers in a confessional video. “So I’ve never publicly told anyone, but I accidentally married my cousin,” she admitted. The video quickly went viral, garnering nearly one million views.
Upon realizing their connection, Marcella and Tage sought answers from their grandparents. To their surprise, not only did their grandparents know each other, but they had also spent some of their childhood living together. Marcella’s grandfather remembered Tage’s grandmother as “the girl with the long braids,” while Tage’s grandmother recalled Marcella’s grandfather as “the good kid.”
“Husband’s next to me on his own FamilySearch, and he’s like, ‘Oh, that’s funny, we have the same grandma and grandpa’s names, I look at this line, and it’s all the same as mine. So I think, ‘Oh no, no, you’re still logged into my account.’ Then we start looking at it and we realize my grandpa is his grandma’s first cousin,” she said.
Despite the initial shock, the couple decided to research the risks associated with having a child with a third cousin. They found solace in a Live Science article that suggested marrying third and fourth cousins was optimal for reproduction due to a mix of shared and distinct genetic traits. This reassurance helped them move forward in their relationship, embracing their unique bond.
The couple, who were already married before discovering their familial ties, celebrated their twelfth wedding anniversary in March 2023. Their love story continued to grow, and together, they built a blended family with four children.
WATCH the video below for more details:
Many TikTok users questioned how Marcella and Tage could have been oblivious to their connection during their wedding. Marcella explained that their low-key ceremony at the courthouse after work on a Wednesday did not involve a large family gathering, which would have potentially revealed their shared ancestry.
And so, Marcella and Tage’s love story, filled with unexpected twists and turns, continued to unfold. Their journey showed the world that sometimes, love can defy even the most surprising of circumstances. With each passing day, they learned to embrace their extraordinary tale, proving that love, in all its forms, is a force to be reckoned with.
WATCH the video below:
https://www.tiktok.com/@beingmarcellahill/video/7186831146079030570?lang=en
Sources: AWM, Yahoo, Dailymail
