Marriage contract of 1651

Groom: Arent Jansz van Straten, widower of Adryana Vinckesteyns

Witnesses on behalf of the groom: Nicolaes van Straten, brother of the groom and Nicolaes Bogaert, doctor of medicine, a good acquaintance of the groom

Bride: Maria van Kittensteyn, widdow of Joannes Cambry

Witnesses on behalf of the bride: Anna van Broeckhoen, widow of Willem Geritsz Kittensteyn and mother of the bride, Willem van Kittensteyn, alderman of Delft and brother of the bride, and Hendrick van Kittensteyn, also brother of the bride

They agree to keep their properties separated; each of them will list these properties in an inventory to be deposed with the notary later on, so no specific possessions are mentioned here. After the death of either of them, their children will inherit the possessions of the deceased parent. In case the groom would die before the bride, she would be entitled to a part of the inheritance of her husband equal to the part the children would receive.

Regarding the difference in ink: this probably can be explained from the final lines of this deed: the document was signed in the home of the mother of the bride; the notary probably had prepared the standard text at his office, the amendments and variable elements were probably added at the moment the deed was signed.

Fascinating Rene. It makes me wonder how many legal documents were signed in clients homes.

I assume notary's would have offices in Delft at that time, like they do now.

I have found the inventory for Maria & Arent but it seems long- 4 pages. They must have had many possessions!

very best wishes

Anne

Hi Anne,

As notaries at the time were one of the few persons who could put agreements on paper (because of lower average literacy level of the population at the time), they were frequently visited by the general public for notarizing agreements, statements, transactions etcetera; visits to a notary back then were more common than nowadays. Composing and/or signing a notary deed at the home of a client occurred less frequent, but was not uncommon: usually this was related to the physical condition of (one of) the parties involved (sickness, immobility, etcetera).

Yes of course Rene. I wonder in this case was it Maria’s mother, Anna who perhaps wasn’t in the best of health? 
I’d like to think Maria the bride-to- be was in good health! 

Thanks as always 

Anne

That seems to be the most logical option, but the document itself does not state the health of any of the persons mentioned; at least the mother of the bride was still able to sign the document by her own hand.