Marriage
Couples
getting married before 1664 were married by banns. This meant that that
a public declaration (banns) was made in the church. This was done three
times and then, if no one voiced any objections, the marriage could proceed.
After 1664, a couple had an option as to how they married: they could marry
by banns or by obtaining a license to marry. After the wedding, the wife
typically kept her maiden name, instead of adopting her husband's name.
Marriage records often gave the following information: bride and groom's
name, where they came from, and their marital status (such as, unmarried
or widow), the marriage date and/or date the banns were read. Men who had
never married before were recorded as "j.m" or "y.m." ("jonge man", meaning
"young man") and women in the same situation were recorded as "j.d" or
"y.d" ("jonge dochter", meaning "young daughter"). This did not neccessarily
mean that they were young, only that they had never married before.
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To contact me: michelle@boydhouse.com
Last
updated 4 Nov 2003.
© Michelle Boyd, 2003.