Dear Belinda, I think the reading of the banns originated when there were few newspapers and certainly no TV, etc. It was begun to alert the community that perhaps two people might be marrying, one or both of which might have previous spouses or be too close in blood ties to have a legitimate marriage. The congregation was supposed to "squeal" on them to prevent the new marriage. That is the purpose of the end of the marriage ceremony--something to the effect "if anyone knows of a reason why this couple should not be united in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." Or something to that effect. Betty On Mon, 20 Mar 2000 03:13:55 -0800 Security <Security@mdusd-csc.cccoe.k12.ca.us> writes: >Betty, now I might be wrong here, but my understanding is that in >order >to get married in the Catholic Church, you have to have the Banns read >aloud in church for 4 Sundays prior to the marriage, I also believe >that >they are also posted someplace in the church. Not being Catholic I'm >not >sure of the exact purpose of the reading & posting of the Banns. I >should ask my Catholic cousins. I know my former mother-in-law, who is >Catholic & was marrying a non-Catholic, told me about her mother >making >sure the Banns were read & everything so that the marriage could take >place. Also, maybe this gives someone a chance who wouldn't be invited >to the wedding a chance if they know of some reason why the marriage >shouldn't take place, they can advise the priest. Maybe someone out >there, who is Catholic, can advise further. >Belinda > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Betty A. Pace [SMTP:bapace2@juno.com] >> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2000 10:52 PM >> To: ROWANROOTS-L@rootsweb.com >> Subject: [RowanRoots] Banns versus Marriage Bonds >> >> Why would someone in 1843 choose to marry via marriage bond and not >by >> banns, especially if the young couple were probably poor people? >How >> much did a marriage bond cost in 1843 >> >> My ABNER PACE (b. 1821-23) was an orphan in 1837 when he was >> apprenticed >> to saddlemakers Hiatt and Jean in Guilford Co. NC. He served that >> apprenticeship until of age, and in 1843 he married JULIA ANN REED >> (b.1823-25) in Guilford by marriage bond. The bondsman for this >> marriage >> was RICHARD MINER. The young couple moved almost immediately to >> Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC, where Abner Pace was a harness maker. I >> have >> been unable to find the parents' names for either of them, despite >> searching the court records at the time of Abner's apprentice bond >> hearing and for five years before--no mention of parents. >> >> Betty Pace - Norfolk, VA >> >> ________________________________________________________________ >> YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! >> Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! >> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: >> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.