Since starting my research in Agrigento I've noticed something surprising. In the 1800s it seems brides typically married around the age of 15 or 16, and in many cases even younger. I've seen several records of potential ancestors where the brides were just 12! In many cases married off to men twice there age. One poor 12 year old was married to a widower over twice her age even! Seems in the early 1800s 12 year old brides were very common there. Later it got better I assume some law must have been made cause at some point in mid or late 1800s it changed to be 15 that seemed youngest I could find.
I'm wondering why would this be the case? I have ancestry in Lipari, Messina and Cerda, Palermo and never did I notice any brides as young as 12. Most it seemed married in their late teens or early 20s. Was agrigento just far poorer or something? I noticed too via census that my great grandmother from Cerda had education up to grade 6 and could read and write while my great grandfather from Agrigento had none and couldn't read or write.
I guess the area of Agrigento I am most curious about is Porto Emperdocle. How were things there in the 1800s? Were they far worse off then the rest of Italy?
Agrigento young marriages?
Re: Agrigento young marriages?
From another thread:
Erudita
"The code for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1819-
article 152-the man cannot contract marriage before reaching age 14 and the woman cannot contract marriage before reaching age 12.
article 163-
the son, until he completed his 25th birthday, and the daughter until she completed her 21st, could not contract marriage without the consent of the father and the mother. In the case that the parents were in disagreement, the consent of the father would be sufficient.
The civil code of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865-after unification
article 55-the man could not contract marriage until he had reached his 18th birthday, and the woman until she had reached her 15th.
article 63-the son who was not yet 25, and the daughter who was not yet 21, could not contract marriage without the consent of the father and the mother"
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Novels-Si ... ooghydr-20
Biff
Erudita
"The code for the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1819-
article 152-the man cannot contract marriage before reaching age 14 and the woman cannot contract marriage before reaching age 12.
article 163-
the son, until he completed his 25th birthday, and the daughter until she completed her 21st, could not contract marriage without the consent of the father and the mother. In the case that the parents were in disagreement, the consent of the father would be sufficient.
The civil code of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865-after unification
article 55-the man could not contract marriage until he had reached his 18th birthday, and the woman until she had reached her 15th.
article 63-the son who was not yet 25, and the daughter who was not yet 21, could not contract marriage without the consent of the father and the mother"
Biff
"Mintammicce impizzu mpizzu ca pue largu minne fazzu sule!"
Re: Agrigento young marriages?
Thanks for the info, I suspected there was some sort of law like that.
I'm more curious as to why in Agrigento (specifically porto emperdocle) they married so young as I know my other Italian branches didn't marry them off in early/mid teens.
I'm more curious as to why in Agrigento (specifically porto emperdocle) they married so young as I know my other Italian branches didn't marry them off in early/mid teens.
