Meaning of coglitrice

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Anizio
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Meaning of coglitrice

Post by Anizio »

Hello,

my ancestor in the 1600s (simply called Lucia moglie di Gentile) seem to be the godmother of a huge number of babies in the town. In one of the baptisms there is an extra note that says that 3 babies, tripplets, needed to be baptized in the home and that it was approved (or perhaps it means provided) by Lucia moglie di Gentile "coglitrice."

What is a coglitrice? It seems to be her profession or designation. Does it have something to do with why she is godmother for so many children?

thanks!
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Tessa78
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by Tessa78 »

Coglitrice = picker/gatherer as in agricultural worker

T.
Anizio
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by Anizio »

Thanks!
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PippoM
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by PippoM »

I think "coglitrice", or "raccoglitrice", was used at that time for "midwife".
See also this dictionary:

https://books.google.it/books?id=a0d5SZ ... ce&f=false
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Tessa78
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

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Makes more sense! :D :D

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PippoM
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by PippoM »

:wink:
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Anizio
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by Anizio »

midwife! Thats the word I was looking for but I could not think of it. Great! Thanks!
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Re: Meaning of coglitrice

Post by paola52 »

Is the word that puzzled you "approvata" ? It would mean she was authorized to give Baptism to newborns at risk of death and that she had received some instruction on how to do it. At least it was so in the Diocese of Milan,. Then, if the child survived it was brought to the church to complete the rites, but at any rate the Baptism was deemed valid. I have also seen that in some villages it was customary to ask the midwife to act as godmother
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