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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2007-08 > 1186606715


From: "Alice Hawrilenko" <>
Subject: Re: [BRE] young woman
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:58:35 -0400
References: <3deab0c90708071049k1916d981i72259dcf91b11aa6@mail.gmail.com><46B8B6AA.4000005@rtkonline.com><000f01c7d920$d3680920$7ac0b54c@kathrynstuart><8C9A80187463B02-580-6478@FWM-D11.sysops.aol.com><3deab0c90708081259w133506c0q76e7c61c652f95e0@mail.gmail.com>


In the early Orthodox Christian church there was a Betrothal ceremony. It
took place at the entrance to the church and was performed by a deacon or
whoever was appointed to lead the Parish services in the absence of a
Priest. In early Christianity Priests were scarce and communities could go
months and even years between visits by itinerant Priests. The Priests
frequently had to serve far-flung communities over vast distances. It was
not uncommon at all for a couple to be betrothed and have half a dozen
children before their marriage was solemnized and or recorded. I suspect
this was also common during the early days of this country no matter the
faith denomination. Right now I'm investigating the likelihood that my
great-great grandparents did not have their marriage recorded until after
they recorded their land patent at the land office. This does not mean that
the couple did not consider themselves married.
Alice .
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patricia Hickin" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [BRE] young woman


> On 8/8/07, <> wrote:
>> >" 'a?young woman' - which in that time -meant 'virgin' "
>> I USED to think that pre-marital sex was pretty much a function of the
>> >prevasiveness of today's blatant sexuality on TV etc. That was before I
>> started >doing genealogy.
>
>
>
> I know of one eminent Dunker divine,whose eldest son had 2 wives and
> 21 children.
>
> The oldest of the 21 married at age 30 a girl about 1/2 his age --
> their first child was born exactly 5 months later (& became a Dunkard
> preacher). I suppose today he would be held guilty of ?? what!!??
>
> Another son and wife had their first child 2 1/2 months after their
> marriage.
>
> Two daughters (one of whom never married) each had a child out of wedlock.
>
> With a number of the others the dates are too imprecise for us to know
> whether the first child was conceived after the marriage of the
> parents.
>
> Two of the 21 were Dunker preachers.
>
> You're right, doing genealogy about some of our Dunker (and other)
> ancestors can be eye-opening!
>
> Pat
>
>
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