Hi Nancy et al, Nancy & list On 9 January 2013 19:53, <nancyterhune@optonline.net> wrote: > The early (17th-early 18th c.) church records of the NY and NJ congregations usually record, unless otherwise specified, the "registration" - registration of intent to marry - of a couple. > > Too many confuse these dates with dates of marriage. We know that. > > My question is: Am I correct in believing that the registration of marriage intent does not equate to the date of the first pronouncement of the banns? They're no doubt not far off, but I don't believe that that means they're the same. > > Can anyone clarify this? I can speak for the rules in Amsterdam and I know the DRC in New > Netherland had to follow the same rules. The registrations of the marriage intentions were during the week and the pronouncements were made in church on the three following Sundays. In some marriage intentions you can read a note in the margin, that they had to bring in the consent of the father before the first pronouncement. So you are right, they're not the same. Regards Cor Snabel > The Netherlands > William Nelson addressed many of these issues in the following: Nelson, William. *Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey*. *Vol. XXII: Marriage Records 1665-1800.* Patterson, NJ, USA: Press Printing and Publishing, 1900. About New Jersey Marriages, Colonial Era, 1665-1800 In addition to the marriage records in this database, included is an historical introduction on the early marriage laws of New Jersey ,and the precedents on which they were founded. Hope the above helps, Regards, Pam Sears