Allegati di matrimoni

[VaDeb]

I have begun working through the "allegati di matrimoni" records of Villalba, Caltanissetta. Included with the couple's birth records, copy of banns, consent of parents or death record of parents I have also found a "Certificato di Poverta". Can you please translate this document title for me. My dictionary would indicate Certificate of Poverty. I don't understand how this relates to a document that lists the couple's names, their parents, their residence and desire to marry.

Thanks
Debbie

[ptimber]

This means Certificate of Poverty and this is I believe a basis to establish whether people have any funds, and, if not, would be expempt frm or receive benefits of some sort or another., Privacy is not a consideration in Italy. I guess it would be the same if someone was asked whether he can pay for hospitalization and he would present his welfare card. Peter

[VaDeb]

Thanks Peter. I hadn't found this document described in any of my sources and was curious how it related to the marriage process. Thanks for the information, again.
Debbie

[ptimber]

I suspect that it is an antiquated certificate these days with instant welfare being spewed all over the place. Peter

[VaDeb]

Hi Peter,

You are probably right about that. I went back and looked again. Seems most "allegati di matrimoni" records where the bride's father was a contadino had this certificate in the year where I found mine.

One thing that did surprise me was how few "allegati di matrimoni" records were present for a given year compared to the number of marriage records. I would say only about 10% had allegati di matrimoni documents. Since collecting these documents was a mandatory part of the marriage process I would expect to find them for each marriage. One roll of microfilm had records from 1867 - 1884 (with occasional gaps in years). The lack of allegati di matrimoni documents was consistent, not just lacking for a few years.

I did recheck records available for Villalba. Seems the church has 3 rolls of microfilmed "allegati matrimoniali" records available. I wonder if for some reason the church has some and the town the other. I know this isn't supported by anthing I read in Tafford Cole's book. Any thoughts on why so few marriage documents made it into this collection?

Debbie

[ptimber]

bureaucratic indifference! peter

[DeliBoy]

The certificato di povertà was used extesively to allow exemption from the various charges the state put on the individual who was not in a financial position to pay.

It was not a ticket to state handouts.

I think it does still exist, and is used if you need to defend yourself in court and do not have the financial means to pay for a lawyer.

Remember when searching the web that although Italians know that à can also be written as a', not all internet search engines do. If you don't have an Italian keyboard, accented characters can still be entered; use the character map applet or search the web for the various other methods. The other thing to do is use an Italian search engine, so www.google.it instead of www.google.com

I hope that helps

[ptimber]

She has ben previously assisted but thanks. We in middle managmenet appreciate your effort in our behalf. Peter