Regarding Rena's question, I can contribute what I observed browsing through
the Kirchenbuch from Gyhum (east of Bremen). In the early 1800's the pastor
listed baptisms (by name) in two categories, "eheliche" (honorable or
legitimate) and "uneheliche" (dishonorable or illegitimate). Most years in
this community there were a few dozen eheliche and one or two uneheliche.
However, one year I recall the pastor recorded in the uneheliche category
the word "Keine!" (none) - complete with exclamation point. So apparently
having none in a particular year was a big deal. I don't remember the
particular year, somewhere in the 1820s I believe.
Regards/mfG
Art <art.dohrman@comcast.net>
Thanks Art,
With the change in meaning of old phrases there could be a discussion on what exactly did the words mean? One meaning could be: "the father intends to marry this girl when circumstances permit and is an honourable man". I have a Scottish Catholic baptism record where there is no mention of 'illegitimate' but there is a note that the couple promised to marry within one year. When that child grew up and married in 1871 there is a record in her Protestant husband's family bible of her birthdate which is given as 2 years later than the actual birth.
Some very old customs seem to be international. To my surprise I saw this year an Indian/Asian ceremony where the bride and groom, as was the custom, slept in the same room on the eve of their wedding. This is reminiscent of the old British custom of 'bundling' where couples slept in the same room on the eve of the marriage - 'bundling' being the individual wrappings each of the couple wore. I think a couple of my ancestors may have taken part in this custom some 300 years ago where a parish record shows they were caught and charged with 'fornicating' on the eve of their marriage.
Rena