View source for Polish Civil Registration Reading Aid

==== Napoleonic Marriage Records in Polish====
Marriage entries are the most informative. Marrying was subject to specific conditions. 
*A male below the age of 18 or a female below the age of 15 could not contract marriage. (The emperor could give dispensations in exceptional, important situations). 
*A son under 25 and a daughter under 21 had to have their parents' consent; in case of parental disagreement, the father's consent sufficed. 
*If the parents were no longer alive or could not be present, then consent was given by grandfathers or, if applicable, brothers or uncles. 
*It was impossible to marry a second time without dissolution of the first marriage.
*The wedding had to take place publicly before the civil registrar in the place of residence of one of the newlyweds. 

The Code also set forth the obligations proceeding from marriage:
*Newlyweds were obligated to, among other things, live together and support themselves together and to raise children jointly. 
*The husband was to protect his wife, his wife was to obey her husband, the wife could not appear in court without her husband's consent (criminal cases were exceptions) except with support of the court.
*The wife could not enter into a second marriage until after 10 months had passed since the previous marriage was dissolved. 
*Children did not have the right to demand any estate from their parents, and in accases of parental poverty, were obligated give them support. 

'''The majority of records from the period of the Napoleonic Code gave exact birth dates for the couple according to entries from the registers of their home parishes.''' 

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'''A.  Place and date of registration of marriage. (Place is given with grammatical ending and the date and time of day are written out in Polish.) Use the Polish Word List to read the date.'''<br>
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''Dzialo się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w mieście Olbierzowicach &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia dwódzięstego''<br>It came to pass in place&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Olbierzowice&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (on) day&nbsp; twentieth-<br>
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''siódmego &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;listopadu &nbsp;&nbsp; roku&nbsp; tysiąc &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; osiemset &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; sześcdziesiątego''<br>seventh (of) November year&nbsp; thousand eight-hundred sixtieth- 
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''czwartego, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; o &nbsp;godzinie dziewiątej &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; rano. . . .<br>''fourth (1864) at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ninth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (in) morning. . . . 
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►'''(Prior to the mid-1820s, records will start with ''Roku''. This earlier format gives year first, date, time of day, and then the title and often name of the registrar. See birth format for an example.)''' 
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'''B.  In most records after the mid-1820s two witnesses are named, usually with genitive grammatical inflection. Their occupations, ages, and residences are given. (Caution: In some cases the groom and bride present themselves at this point in the entry. In such cases the witnesses will be noted in the Summation.)'''<br>
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''Wiadomo &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;czyniemy źe &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;w przytomności &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;świadków&nbsp; Tomasza<br>''Knowingly (we) affirm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that in presence&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) witnesses&nbsp; Tomasz<br>
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''Kolczaka mularz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;trzydzieści i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Piotra Studzińskiego''<br>Kolczak&nbsp;&nbsp; bricklayer years thirty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and Piotr&nbsp; Studzińki<br>
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''szewca &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; trzydzieści sześć mających, obydwóch w Olbierzowicach<br>''shoemaker years thirty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; six&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; having,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; both&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Olbierzowice<br>
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''zamięskałych.'' . . .<br>residing. . . .<br>
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►'''Sometimes:'''<br>
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''Stawiłi się. . .''(Names of witnesses as above, without grammatical endings.)<br>They appeared. . . 
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'''C.  In most records prior to the mid-1820s and sometimes later, the groom and bride will present themselves. Information will be given as in D below, usually without the instrumental grammatical inflection. If the couple appear together with a witness or official, then the instrument inflection may be required because of the preposition ''z".'''<br>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Stawiłi&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ludwik Jan Kowalski, &nbsp;lat. . . . etc., a<br>''(They) presented themselves Ludwik Jan Kowalski, age. . . .etc., and<br>
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''Panna &nbsp;&nbsp;Tekla Tokarska,&nbsp; lat. . . . etc.''<br>Maiden Tekla Tokarska, age. . . . etc.<br>
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►'''Sometimes:'''<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Stawil &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rabin Hersz Sztajn wraz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;z &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Starozakonami<br>''(He) presented himself Rabbi Hersz Sztajn together with Jews<br>
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''Szmulem Litmanem, lat. . . . , &nbsp;&nbsp;a &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Panna Ruchlą Dawidowiczowną, &nbsp;lat. . . .<br>''Szmul&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Litman,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; age. . . . , and maiden Ruchla Dawidowiczowna, age. . . . 
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'''D. Statement of marriage. If marriage took place on a day different than the day of registration, it will be stated here.'''<br>
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''Na dniu dzisiejszym / wczorajszym zawarte &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;zostało Religijne''<br>On day&nbsp;&nbsp; today&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / yesterday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; accomplished was&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Religious<br>
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''Małźenstwo między. . . .<br>''Marriage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; between. . . . 
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'''E. Names of bridegroom and bride are given. Because the preposition ''między''requires instrumental grammatical inflection, their names and all words describing them will have grammatical endings. For the groom, everything will end with –''m''. For the bride, everything will end with –''ą.''Information given will vary. Age, previous marital status and residence are almost always given. Very often the entry will also give place of birth. (In early records prior to the mid-1820s this is often accompanied by a statement that the age and birthplace are confirmed by an extract from the parish register of the birthplace.) Most records give the names and residence of parents of the bride and groom. Other information that may be given would be exact birth date, names of previous marriage partners, etc. The order in which information is given can vary, but the groom is always first with information pertaining to him, followed by the bride and all information pertaining to her.<br>
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''między&nbsp;&nbsp; Ludwikiem Janem Orlikiem / Kowalskim młodzianem / kawalerem /<br>''between Ludwik &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jan &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Orlik &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ Kowalski &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;bachelor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ bachelor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/<br>
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''wdowcem kowalem / profeszyi &nbsp;&nbsp;kowalskiej w Kaczkowiznie zamieszkałym. . . <br>''widower&nbsp;&nbsp; smith&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / profession smith&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Kaczkowizna residing. . .<br>
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''urodzonym w Gostynie z &nbsp;/ synem &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;niegdyś / zmarłego Tomasza i<br>''born&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Gostyn of /&nbsp; son&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) the late / deceased Tomasz&nbsp;&nbsp; and (of)<br>
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''Justyny z Pinkowskich &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;małźonków &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Orlików podług<br>''Justyna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pinkowska &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a married couple (named) the Orliks&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; according to<br>
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''złoźonej&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; przed&nbsp; Nami metryko&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wyjęty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; z&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ksiąg&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; kościoła<br>''submitted before us&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; certificate extracted from book&nbsp; (of) church at<br>
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''Gostyńskiego lat. . . . etc. &nbsp;a &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Panna &nbsp;&nbsp;Tekla Tokarska&nbsp; / wdowa po Józefie<br>''Gostyn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; age . . . etc. and maiden Tekla Tokarska / widow of&nbsp; Józef<br>
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''Gadzińskim zmarłym &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia. .&nbsp; / przy matce &nbsp;&nbsp;zostającą, Córka. . .''<br>Gadziński&nbsp;&nbsp; deceased (on) day. . ./ with mother staying,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Daughter (of). . .<br> 
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►'''(Information is given for the bride similar to that given for the groom.) '''
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'''F. As marriages must be preceded by three banns (announcements in the church) the dates of the banns are given, written out in Polish. Some records also state who gave permission for the marriage.<br>
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''Małźenstwo to &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;poprzedzily &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; trzy &nbsp;&nbsp;zapowiedzie &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w&nbsp; dniach<br>''Marriage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; this preceded&nbsp;&nbsp; (by) three announcements on days<br>
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''dziesiątym, siedmnastym, i&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dwódziestym czwartym&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; listopadu&nbsp; roku<br>''tenth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; seventeenth, and twenty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; fourth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) November year<br>
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bie''źącego w parafia. Zezwolenie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; małźenstwa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ojca<br>''current&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in parish. Permission (for) marriage&nbsp;&nbsp; (by) father (of)<br>
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nowoza''ślubionego&nbsp; i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; rodziców&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; nowozaślubionej.<br>''groom (newlywed) and parents&nbsp; (of) bride (newlywed). 
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'''G.  Summation: This includes a statement that there were no objections to the marriage. Sometimes it includes a renaming of the witnesses with an occasional mention of relationship to the bride or groom. Finally, it concludes with a statement, as in birth and death records, that the entry was read to witnesses and that they signed or did not sign, depending on their ability to write.'''