Research A-Z ~ Italian

Although the Italian Records program is still under development, it is possible to complete the first six courses.

Transcription Tuesday – Indexing Project

The FamilySearch: Italian Genealogical Word List is an excellent tool to assist you with your Italian transcriptions.

Transcription Tuesday – Italian Handwriting

On the first Monday of each month, the next rotation of our online courses begins. The National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers 230+ online courses on a wide variety of topics, providing genealogical education for those interested in beginning to research their family history, as well as professional genealogists.

One of the foundational research skills for our students to develop is Transcribing. For this reason, we have created a compulsory Basic Level course (Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting ) to equip all of our certificate students with this vital ability. However, all family history researchers, no matter what their level of expertise, should strive to acquire this core skill.

As we research our family history, many of us will eventually encounter immigrant ancestors. As we document their arrival, we gain clues for their country of origin. Many times, this will involve a change of language and introduce us to records in an unfamiliar country. Time needs to spent learning about what is available and where to find more information. It is recommended to consult the FamilySearch Wiki as a launching point. Choose your country of interest. We will be using Italy Genealogy for examples today.

One of the first challenges we are faced with is different languages, but also the handwriting that was used in various historical time periods, for specific record types, and even in locations or districts involved with their homeland. Be sure to study everything you can gather about the location where your research will be focused.

We have developed an essential basic level course for Italian research: Italian: Language and Location to guide you through many of these challenges. From the course description: Understanding, or being able to decipher, the languages found with Italian genealogical documents is an essential skill needed to effectively research your Italian ancestors. While most records are in Italian, you will find other languages within the records depending on the history of the town or region you are researching. Emphasis is placed on reading the handwriting and how to translate and understand basic Italian records.

This course is offered monthly, and is just one of the courses included with our Italian Records Certificate.

Additional Helpful Italian Research Resources from FamilySearch.org:
Italy Language and Handwriting
Italy Handwriting

Italian Genealogical Word List
Italian Birth Document Translation
Category: Italy

Researching in records from other countries can be challenging, but utilize the tools that have been developed for your success. Italian Handwriting can be studied and transcribed. Use the FamilySeach Word Lists and resources, along with what you will explore in our Italian Record courses. Document your immigrant family’s story, including every document you discover – transcribed and translated. Preserve your Italian heritage!
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As researchers, we have found that there are many skills we need to employ in order to achieve success in our future research projects. Transcription Tuesday will share guidelines and practical suggestions to help our readers to develop the skills for making effective transcriptions, abstracts, and extractions.

Transcription Tuesday previous blog post
Transcription Tuesday Index
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These three core courses demonstrate Transcription principles. They are offered monthly, beginning on the first Monday of every month: Register today!
Methodology-Part 2: Organizing and Skill-Building (Basic Level)
Skills: Transcribing, Abstracting & Extracting (Basic Level)
Palaeography: Reading & Understanding Historical Documents (Advanced)—————————————————-
Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
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Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
Email: admin@GenealogicalStudies.com
Website: www.GenealogicalStudies.com
Blog: blog.GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION since 1997

Ecclesiastical Marriage Banns

Religious Records are often among the first records we search for in our research projects. Many of the courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies cover various aspects of these vital records and give us a glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. (See this blog post about our Religious Records courses.)

This week we continue our investigation of Marriage Banns in Module 2 of the Italian: Catholic Church Records-Part 2 course by examining the Ecclesiastical Marriage Banns for Sardo & Fontana.

Ecclesiastical Marriage Banns – Melchiore Sardo & Giacoma Fontana
Chiesa di San Nicolo, Trapani, Trapani province, Italy; “Matrimoni [marriage records, which included marriage banns], 1778”: no record number, 17 September 1778, ecclesiastical marriage banns for Melchiore Sardo and Giacoma Fontana; digitized images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : accessed 4 Sep 2019).

Translation – Ecclesiastical Marriage Banns – Melchiore Sardo & Giacoma Fontana
Chiesa di San Nicolo, Trapani, Trapani province, Italy; “Matrimoni [marriage records, which included marriage banns], 1778”: no record number, 17 September 1778, ecclesiastical marriage banns for Melchiore Sardo and Giacoma Fontana; digitized images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : accessed 4 Sep 2019).

We can see that the 17th of September was the date of the request for marriage banns. The first bann was posted three days later, the second bann seven days after that, and the third bann only two days after the second bann. Thus fulfilling the requirement of three declarations.

Both the bride and groom were living in the town of Trapani when their banns were posted. However, the bride was born in the town of Monte San Giuliano, another town in the Trapani province. This gives clues for where to search for further records on these families.

You will also note that the surnames of both mothers were omitted. Locating and identifying our female ancestors is always a challenge. Thankfully, later records required more information to be recorded than earlier records.

You can explore more information about these records in the Italian: Catholic Church Records-Part 2 course, where we examine in detail the various forms of Italian marriages records that were created, and what genealogical information you may find in them.

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Visit our website for a complete list of online courses offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Check our Course Calendar here.
Follow us on Social Media: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.
*Note: Please be aware our social media accounts are monitored regularly, but NOT 24/7. If you have any questions, please contact the office directly.

Contact information:
1 (800) 580-0165
www.GenealogicalStudies.com
blog.GenealogicalStudies.com
admin@GenealogicalStudies.com

LEADERS IN ONLINE GENEALOGY EDUCATION

Italian Marriage Banns

Religious Records are covered by several courses at The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. (See this blog post about our Religious Records courses.) One specific type of records to explore are Marriage Banns. You may think they were only used in the past, but they are still in use in today, although not as common. As we continue to look at the Italian: Catholic Church Records-Part 2 course, we find that Marriage Banns are covered in Module 2.

Marriage Banns were an attempt to curb clandestine or forced marriages. Canonical law stated the marriage banns, announcing an upcoming marriage, must be read from the pulpit on three consecutive holy days (Sunday mass or feast days) and, also posted on the door of the parish.

If the bride and groom were not from the same parish, banns would be posted and announced in both parishes. It was the priest’s responsibility to determine a couple’s residence in a certain place or quasi-residence (residing there part of the year, more than six months) so that the priest knew where the banns should be posted and read. He was required to keep a written record of the banns, as well as any requests for publication that he makes to other parishes.

The banns allowed parish members to bring forth any objections or impediments, either of affinity or consanguinity. A priest could not refuse the posting of the banns unless there was a reason, as defined by canon law. If no objections were found, the couple would then be married in front of their parents with a large celebration to follow.

Parents with limited financing and several children of marriageable age would often marry off two children at once, saving themselves the cost of a second marriage celebration. Always look at the record before and after to see if it might be for a sibling of the ancestor you are researching. Depending on the time period and region, there may or may not have been a subsequent civil marriage required.