What are Memorandum civil records?

[sertolicell]

Hi all,
what do the civil (pre-unification) Memorandum records contain of information?
See for example Palermo:
https://familysearch.org/search/catalog ... %20Library

I am not sure whether I should bother ordering these microfilm from LDS since I usually have to wait 6-8 months before the film arrives in Denmark. So I have to prioritize resources.

Are these records unique for Sicily/Kingdom of Two Sicilies?

Thanks, Roberto

[liviomoreno]

I don't know what they are, but if you go to a Family History Center you will be able to see them on line. Non need to order the microfilm

[erudita74]

Basically the memorandum is a brief notification that was posted on the door of a town hall indicating that a couple was to make their solemn promise to marry. Only their names and the names of their parents are given. There are no other details about any of them. In conjunction with marriage notifications and publications, it served as a bann of marriage-so that anyone objecting to the marriage could come forward and voice his/her opposition.
Erudita

[AngelaGrace56]

I agree with both Livio and Erudita. I have typed up the following, giving you samples from my own records, of three different records pertaining to Marriages:


The Memorandum is a marriage bann. Here is a sample from my records:
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... 8.jpg.html


Basically the information is limited, it tells you the name of the groom, his parents, the name of the bride, and her parents.

Much more detail is given in the Notificazione, also a marriage bann, which gives the name, age, profession, parents of groom and of the bride and sometimes the parents' occupations:
http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... ewsIndex=0

All the information contained in both the Memorandum and the Notificazione can be found in the Matrimoni (Marriage Records), although sometimes I have found that the parents' occupations are contained in the Notificazione and not the Matrimoni (Marriage Records). If time and funding is limited, I would just order the Matrimoni.

Atto di solenne promessa di matrimonio (Act of Promise to Marry (and Marriage Record)): http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.i ... ewsIndex=0

Keep an eye out on the following site because they will be adding more records: http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/?q=gallery

Angela

[sertolicell]

Many thanks for the information. I guess they are not worth waiting 6 months for compared to other more informative records such as Atto della solenne promessa di matrimonio.

I will try and go to my local FHC and check those splendid digitized Palermo pre-unification civil records, although it would had been so nice to be able to consult them from home just like the publically available post-unification records.

Roberto

[erudita74]

Happy to help.
Erudita