Translation of a orphan birth record
Translation of a orphan birth record
Hi if I upload an orphan birth record info document from 1884 From the town of Sant Elia a pianisi in campobasso is there anyone that can help translate it? Thank you so much. Cathy
Re: Translation of a orphan birth record
Cathy
The baptism of an infant, even an abandoned one, would normally take place on the day of birth, or within one or two days after. If the newborn was in imminent danger of dying, the midwife herself would perform the baptism rite (she had the permission of the Catholic Church to do so) or, if the baby was healthy, she took it to the church to have it baptized. Even when the parents of a newborn were known, and it had not been abandoned, it was the midwife who normally walked through the town’s streets carrying the baby to the church for its baptism. She would then be accompanied by the infant’s father, other family members, friends, and neighbors. She also often served as the infant's godmother. New mothers normally did not attend the baptism of their infants, as they had to undergo a purification period of some 40 days and thus did not leave their homes during that time period.
I found the following link concerning a parish (parishes) in Sant’ Elia a Pianisi. If you click on the link, you will see other parish names listed under the Parrocchia di S. Elia Profeta, all with the same address. Since you are in contact with relatives in Italy, possibly they can help you track down a baptism record, as those are not online for this town. The telephone number below is for use in Italy.
http://www.parrocchiemap.it/parrocchiem ... %20Pianisi
Parrochia di S Elia Profeta
Largo Chiesa, 17
86048 Sant’Elia a Pianisi (CB)
Italia
Tel 0874/81204
Here’s a link to a form letter in Italian, in case you need it to write and request the record from the parish:
http://geocities.ws/paulanigro/italian- ... tter4.html
If you can get a copy of this book through a library (your public library might be able to get you a copy on loan from a local university library), I would suggest reading it. It's out of print and used copies are extremely expensive now:
Sacrificed for Honor: Italian Infant Abandonment and the Politics of Reproductive Control
by David I. Kertzer (Author)
Erudita
The baptism of an infant, even an abandoned one, would normally take place on the day of birth, or within one or two days after. If the newborn was in imminent danger of dying, the midwife herself would perform the baptism rite (she had the permission of the Catholic Church to do so) or, if the baby was healthy, she took it to the church to have it baptized. Even when the parents of a newborn were known, and it had not been abandoned, it was the midwife who normally walked through the town’s streets carrying the baby to the church for its baptism. She would then be accompanied by the infant’s father, other family members, friends, and neighbors. She also often served as the infant's godmother. New mothers normally did not attend the baptism of their infants, as they had to undergo a purification period of some 40 days and thus did not leave their homes during that time period.
I found the following link concerning a parish (parishes) in Sant’ Elia a Pianisi. If you click on the link, you will see other parish names listed under the Parrocchia di S. Elia Profeta, all with the same address. Since you are in contact with relatives in Italy, possibly they can help you track down a baptism record, as those are not online for this town. The telephone number below is for use in Italy.
http://www.parrocchiemap.it/parrocchiem ... %20Pianisi
Parrochia di S Elia Profeta
Largo Chiesa, 17
86048 Sant’Elia a Pianisi (CB)
Italia
Tel 0874/81204
Here’s a link to a form letter in Italian, in case you need it to write and request the record from the parish:
http://geocities.ws/paulanigro/italian- ... tter4.html
If you can get a copy of this book through a library (your public library might be able to get you a copy on loan from a local university library), I would suggest reading it. It's out of print and used copies are extremely expensive now:
Sacrificed for Honor: Italian Infant Abandonment and the Politics of Reproductive Control
by David I. Kertzer (Author)
Erudita
