Marriage contract- 1647

Page 2

Hi Anne,

Just had a quick look: it is a 'prenup', stating which possessions belonged to the bride and groom respectively . This was only useful for couples where both partners had quite some wealth and/or assets, in order to protect their financial position when the marriage ended by separation or (more commonly ) death of one of them. In the latter case, the surviving parent only was obliged to compensate and guarantee the worth of the inheritance to their children for the part of the deceased partner (in stead of the far larger communal wealth of the couple).

Unfortunately I cannot provide a full transcription now, but I hope the above already helps you out a bit.

Found some time to create a more elaborate summary:

The act mentiones that Joris Jansz Mesch, unmarried man ('jongman') and Judithge Phillipsd(ochte)r van Velsen, unmarried women ('jongedochter'), soon to be married to each other, appeared before the notary.

Joris was assisted by his stepfather Guilliame de Graeff and his mother Elisabeth Jorisd(ochte)r. Judithge was assisted by her father Phillips Geerloffsz van Velsen, by her brother-in-law Cornelis Anthonisz Buijtenvest (member of the cit& council and alderman of Leiden), and by her uncle Cornelis Michielsz Soetens (treasurer of the Delfland region).

After that, the contributions b& the groom (with his parents as guarantor) and the br

ide (with her father as guarantor) to their future household is specified:
* groom: 2,500 Carolus guilders
* bride: 600 Carolus guilders

Next, the document states the inheritance for several scenarios:

* If the husband would die childless before the wife, she will be entitled to take her part of the mone (600 Carolus guilders) back as well as all other goods contributed by her: linnen and wool clothes, jewelry, silverware, and all other items clearl belonging to her personal bodily care
* She will then also be the prioritised inheritor of 600 Carolus guilders from the inheritance of her deceased husband, preceding all other inheritants or creditors.

* In case the bride would die childless before her husband, her possessions will be inherited by her next of kin ('vrunden') and legal inheritants.

* In case the couple would have children when either the bride of the groom would die, the inheritance of the deceased parent will befall to the children

* In case one of the children dies, the part of the inheritance of the deceased child will befall to the other children
* In case all children will have died and either the bride of the groom dies, the inheritance of the deceased parent and children will befall to the next-of-kin from the deceased parent

The other text is more or less 'standard' for this type of acts.

Rene

You are a star! Thank you so much for taking the extra time to give a fuller picture of the marriage contract.

Very interesting that Joris has to input over 4 times what Judith did. Was that usual do you know?

Joris's stepfather was an attorney, and his father was a silversmith. Joris eventually went on to own a pottery factory in Delft which after his death his widow Judith ran for many years, very succesfully. She was a good business women and it seems a creative artist too.

Warmest best wishes

Anne

Dear Anne,

You are welcome! Just a clarification: the amounts mentioned were not the amounts they needed to bring along, but were the amounts they owned personally. The prenuptial agreement served to guarantee that they each stayed the owner of the amounts mentioned: in case no prenup was composed, the amounts would be combined and become a household asset to which each of the partners was entitled.

Thanks for the clarification Rene. 

It makes very interesting reading and further's my understanding of Netherlands 17th century society.

very best wishes

Anne