Act of respect

When asking for documents to be translated there are several possible Polish translators. One of them, Dorothy, translates for me and Connie Liszewski (wife of my 4th cousin Mike Liszewski) frequently. Dorothy is familiar with the particular database that has records from the region of the Raczkiewicz relatives because she has done family research using it. Occasionally she will translate something she hasn’t seen before. Prenups was an example. When one showed up in a family record, it was the first time Dorothy had ever seen one. Now we have found a handful of them. Another thing Dorothy had never seen related to marriages is called an “Act of Respect.” ***** When marrying under age 25 for men and 21 for women, the person is to “demand, by a respectful and formal act, the advice of their father and mother, or that of their grandfathers and grandmothers when their father and mother are dead.” ***** Dorothy did a little research and determined that Acts of Respect by notaries and permission to marry were common practice at the time. Acts of respect were short, one-page contracts, concluded between parents or, in the absence of them, the closest relatives and children intending to marry. They were prepared in front of a notary a few days before the wedding. They have a form which pleads for parental blessing. ***** The Act of Respect is from the Napoleonic Code, the first collection of civil law in the Kingdom of Poland. According to Iwona Dakiniewicz, a genealogist from Lodz, it was more cultural than legal in nature. It was a way to formally recognize the effort of the parents in raising them and to thank them for it. Consent was a separate determination. ***** Most of the records do not mention the acts of respect.Apparently only a few of the legal authorities (often the priests) required the act to be implemented. In France, where the Napoleonic Code originated, all marriage records required it. The author’s theory is that Polish families followed the tradition by following the Fourth commandment, “honor thy father and thy mother” so there was not a need for this process. ***** It makes you wonder if there was something out of the ordinary going on in the few cases where one was included. ***** “The Act Uszanowania or Act of Respect” Iwona Dakiniewicz, Lodz Poland, Rodziny, Winter, 2018, p. 3. ***** 2 Feb 1817 5th great aunt An Act of Respect was submitted In Tomaszów, on 1817 2nd February, before the Parish Priest of Tomaszów and official of Civil Records by JanBratkiewicz. He was 19 years old. He submitted an Act of respect to his mother since his father was deceased.. He also needed permission to marry since he was underage and that was provided by his mother.His bride, the “renowned” Miss Jozefa Kurkiewicz, age 15, had both parents’ permission to marry and presented an Act of Respect. These were prepared by the Notary, the banns were announced and, having received no objections to the marriage, according to the 6th Civil Code, they were married.