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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2007-10 > 1193179188


From: Mona Rainville <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] Martin Cote and Suzanne Paget
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:39:48 -0400
References: <20071023.181306.8035.0@webmail21.vgs.untd.com>
In-Reply-To: <20071023.181306.8035.0@webmail21.vgs.untd.com>


Hi Charlie,

Answer #1: The priest probably skipped writing in their marriage in the
register and caught himself in time to write it a bit later on. Nothing
special.

Answer #2: The minimum age at which a girl could legally be married -
according to Canon Law - in 1669 was 12. It was 14 for boys. Since the
purpose of marriage was to go forth and multiply, it was felt that
younger children were not able to procreate. In France, however, and in
all French jurisdiction - of which New France was still a part of in
1669 - by Royal decision known as the Ordonnance de Blois, proclaimed in
1579, girls could not be legally married until they reached the age of
13, and boys, the age of 15. The Catholic Clergy tended not to go
against this Royal Edict.

This minimum age is sometimes refered to as Marital Majority (âge
nubile), not to be confused with Civil Majority, which at the time was 25.

Cheers,

Mona


wrote:
> When Martin COTE (age 28)and Suzanne PAGET (age 13) were married in 1669 their PRDH marriage cert carries the note:
>
> 'Acte non en ordre chronolique; situe apres m. 1669'
>
> Question #1: What is the problem here? Is it just a note that the act is just not in chronological order in the book?
>
> Question #2: What was the minimum age that Suzanne could have been married in this time period in Quebec? 13?
>
> Thanks for the help,
> Charlie King
> novice researcher
> _____________________________________________________________
>

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