TYPES OF CIVIL RECORDS

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MARRIAGE CIVIL REGISTRATION RECORDS
A French marriage entry contains
- The given names and surnames of the bride and groom, with an indication of:
- their marital status
- domicile
- nationality
- age
- place of birth. In some cases, the date of birth is also given.
- The given names and surnames of the parents of both bride and groom
- The lieu de naissance (birthplace) of those parentsmay also be given.
- The entire act will be dated and signed by witnesses named in the entry.
The following is a sample marriage record created by the Civil Registration Offices in Zwoll, in the Dutch province of Ovrijssel, in 1813. During Napoleonic occupation of Netherlands from 1813- o 1815) official Dutch civil register records were written in French. The information has been recorded into a printed form. Below the image of the document, you will find the transcription and the translation of the record.
SAMPLE MARRIAGE RECORD

TRANSCRIPTION
ACTE de MARIAGE
L'an mil huit cent treize le trente
du mois de Avril par devant nous Christoffee Wrehem
Eckhout adjoint au maire de la commune de Zwoll
Arrondissement de Zwoll faisant les fonctions d'officier de letat civil sont comparus
Arnolodus Joannes Vos de Wael Avocat demeurant
dans cette ville né et baptisé le dix du mois de février mil sept
cent-quatre vingt-sept, fils de Gerardus Gerardus Vos de Wael
ancien bourgmestre de la ville de Lwole et y demeurant, cy present
et consentant et de Arnoldina Antonia Helmich et Mad[elle]
Anna Maria Helmich, demeurant dans cette ville, baptisée
le vingt-trois octobre mil sept-cent-quatre-vingt-neuf, fille
de Monsieur Michael Helmich, rentier demeurant dans
cette ville cy-present en consentant et de Dame
Maria Johanna Van Grootvelle
Lesquels nous ont requis de procéder à la célébration du mariage projetté entre eux,
Et dont les publications ont été faites devant la principale porte de notre maison
Commune : savoir la premiere le dix-huit du mois de Avril
La seconde le vingt-cinq du mois de Avril de l'an
Mil huit cent treize a onze heure du matin
Aucune opposition au dit Mariage de nous ayant été signifiée, faisant droit à leur
réquisition apres avoir donné lecture du Chapitre VI. du titre de Code Napoleon intitulé
du Mariage et des pièces susmentionnées, avons demandé au futur époux et la future
épouse, s'ils veulent se prendre pour mari et pour femme, chacun d'eux ayant repondu
séparement et affrimativement déclarons au nom de la loi que Arnoldus
Joannes Vos de Wael et Anna Marie Helmiech
sont unis par le mariage ; de quoi nous avons dressé acte en presence de Gerardus
(pg. 2)
Gerandus vos de Wael, ancien bourgumestre de la ville de Zwoll membre du conseil municipal père du fiancé,
Michiel Helmich rentier père de la fiancée, Arnoldus Johannes Helmich institut procureur Imperial frère de la
fiancée, et Theodorus Helmich, marchand de vin, frère de la fiancée, tous demeurant dans cette ville, temoins a ce
requis les quels |apres lecture faite| one signé noms et les parties contractantes
Fait a Zwoll aux jours etan que dessûs
TRANSLATION
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
The year eight hundred and thirteen thirty
the month of April in front of us Christoffee Wrehem
Eckhout deputy Mayor of the Town of Zwoll
Borough of Zwoll making the functions of the Officer of the civil state appeared
Arnolodus Joannes Vos of Wael Lawyer residing
in this city, born and baptized the 10 of the month of February ten thousand seven
one hundred to four twenty-seven, son of Gerardus Gerardus Vos of Wael
former mayor of the city of Lwole and residing, and present
and consenting and of Arnoldina Antonia Helmich and Mad [she]
Anna Maria Helmich, residing in this city, baptized
23 October [one] thousand seven one hundred to eighty-nine, daughter of
Mr. Michael Helmich, annuitant residing in
this city present in agreement and of Lady
Maria Johanna Van Grootvelle
Which have required us to proceed with the celebration of the marriage plans between them,
And whose publications have been made outside the front door of our house
Municipality : namely the first the eighteen[th] of the month of April
the second the twenty-fifth of the month of April of the year
[one] thousand eight hundred and thirteen at eleven o'clock in the morning
No opposition of the said the Mariage having been made known unto us granting them
requisition after having read Chapter VI of the title of Napoleon Code entitled in the
Marriage and the above documents, have asked the future husband and future
wife, if they want to take the husband and wife, each having answered
affirmative separately and declare in the name of the law that Arnoldus
Joannes Vos of Wael and Anna Marie Helmiech
are united in marriage; of which we have made an act in the presence of Gerardus
(pg. 2)
Gerardus vos de Wael, previously Mayor of the town of Zwoll member of the municipal council father of the
groom, Michiel Helmich renter father of the bride, Arnoldus Johannes Helmich institute public prosecutor brother
of the bride, and Theodorus Helmich, wine salesman, brother of the bride, all living in this town, witnesses to this
request the which - after reading - have signed their names and the contracting parties.
ADDITIONAL SAMPLES
For more examples of Marriage civil registration records click here.
