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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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.

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Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church

Religious Records cover a wide variety of documents. The National Institute for Genealogical Studies offers several courses covering this topic. (See this blog post about our Religious Records courses.) It is important to become familiar with the religious records relevant to the region and specific time period where you are researching. Records for the same denomination could be different depending on location and the local laws and regulations, even within the same country.

As we continue to look at the Italian: Catholic Church Records-Part 2 course, we find that Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church is covered in Module 2. Here is a portion of what will be discussed.

A 1564 decree made marriage in the Roman Catholic Church a sacrament. This was reinforced by Papal proclamation in 1595. The requirements for marriage, as dictated by the Council of Trent, were:

Marriage was a sacrament and Church business
Couples had to have parental consent, appear with parents/guardians
Couples could not be forced into marriage, must have free choice
Marriage must be performed in front of two witness

Additionally, within parish marriage records, you will sometimes find registers for the Stato Libero (statement of free status) or Sponsati Contratti (marriage engagements/contracts). These records were for marriage engagements/contracts to be performed elsewhere, and for stating that the bride or groom was free to marry. The following is an example of this type of document.

Statement of Free Status – Francesco d’Averzo & nine-year-old Michela Pizzolato, Catania, Italy

Note: Italy has laws concerning privacy restrictions like any other country. Italian privacy law extends for 70 years after the creation of a birth record, and 50 years from the date of the event on a death or marriage record. A priest will usually follow the privacy laws when determining whether you can access the records.

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