document included in marriage act

[dmt1955]

http://s33.postimg.org/h2tyd39sf/1844_A ... rriage.jpg

document #9 - the death act of bride's first husband - Tommaso Purcaro. What is written after that:
"morto al di la dei dieci mesi" is this accurate? does this mean that he has been dead past 10 months? He died 3 Jul 1840 (marriage is 2 May 1844). I am not sure if I am missing something in the translation of this.

thanks so much,
donna

[liviomoreno]

It means that more than 10 months passed after his death. A widow(er) could not marry again unless ten months had passed after the death of the spouse.

[dmt1955]

livio,
thanks very much. i did not know that there was a 10-month rule. would you happen to know what the reasons were as to why this rule was instituted?

thanks,
donna

[erudita74]

Donna
I don't know if you'll find the following info helpful.
Erudita

Possibly the practice of the 10 month rule carried over from Roman times. In the early days of Rome, remaining a widow was considered a virtue, and the society frowned upon remarriage, especially if a woman was past her child bearing years. Even at some later point in that society, it reflected badly upon a woman, if she had a reputation of remarrying with some frequency, or with undue haste. The 10 month rule, for one thing, ensured there would be no question of paternity. Adhering to it also meant that she would not be suspected of colluding with the new husband in the death of her former husband. I don't know in the 1840s, but in the 1865 civil code on page 17, it states that a woman cannot contract a new marriage until 10 months after the dissolution of a former marriage (death being one form of dissolution obviously), unless the marriage was annulled on the grounds of impotence. It also states that this prohibition ceases from the day the woman has given birth to a child.

[dmt1955]

erudita,
this is very helpful. thankyou, very much.
donna

[erudita74]

Donna
Glad that info is helpful. If I find anything else, I'll post it.
Erudita