Most, if not all marriages were arranged by the fathers of the bride and groom. My Aunt Anna was "betrothed" to her future husband when she was 14. Shortly after that, the family came to America, and her future husband was forced into the Russian army. He escaped through the underground, finally made his way to America, and they were wed four years later, both having waited for the other, as per terms of the agreement. My father and mothers marriage was also arranged, by my mother's step father, who was my father's uncle, to pay off the debt my father and grandparents incurred for transporting them to America. It sounds confusing, but it really wasn't for that time. (1913) Suzanne Heinitz-Dodge "Dennis L. Sewald" <dennis@sewald.name> wrote: Does anyone know if it was the custom to have arranged marriages both in Russia and with the early VG? Thanks, Dennis Sewald ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel.