Ābolītis may be married

1 Name: Ābolitis (Ahbolit)

Here the document is discussed that certifies that Ivan Ahbolit can be joined in matrimony. The document was issued by the Order court in Valmiera [Wolmar] on September 22, 1878.

An

Sn. Hochwohlehrwürden den Rujenschen Herrn Kirchspiel Prediger.

Auf das Schreiben vom 20.Septbr, c. No 602 hat diese Behörde Ew Hochwohlehrwürden mitzutheilen daß der vom Wolischen 109. Infanterie Regiment beurlaubte Gemeine Iwan Anz Sohn Ahbolit nach seinem Urlaubsbillet griech. orthod. Religion und ledig ist demnach seiner Verehelichung keine Hinderniß im Wege steht.

Bei Mittheilung hierüber werden Ew Hochwohlehrwürden ersucht nach geschehenen Copulation, ein Attestat darüber an diese Behörde gelangen zu lassen.

Ordnungsrichter ??

To

His Highly Honored Reverend Father the Pastor of Rujen church

This authority informs Your Highly Honored Reverend Father answering the letter of September 20, Nr. 602 that the private Ivan son of Ancis Ābolītis being on leave from the Volski 109 infantry regiment belongs to the Greek Orthodox religion and is unmarried according to his billet of leave, thereafter there are no obstacles for joining him in matrimony.

Additionally Your Highly Honored Reverend Father is asked to deliver after the wedding a certificate thereabout to this authority.

Order judge

Comments:

• I did my best to translate the salutation at the beginning of the letter and the addressing in the text, but I am not sure I could find a way how the Pastors should be addressed in polite English of the 19^th century.
• It is quite possible that I.Ābolītis changed his first name Jānis to Ivan when he converted to the Orthodox Church. His father's name Ancis presumably was registered with mistakes, in reality it could be Ansis or Andžs.
• In 1874 the Law on mandatory military service came in force and the draftees served for 6 years plus 9 years in reserve. The command of troops had right to leave a soldier for one year long vacancy. I think that I.Ābolītis was on leave with billet for this kind of vacancy. Another possibility is that he had already served his 6 years of active service and was now in reserve with the document (billet) that certified the fact, but in this case the word Urlaub - vacation, holidays would not be used, I think. The military persons were obliged to obtain permission from their superiors in order to be joined in matrimony. It is not quite clear why the Order court was the authority that issued this certificate with permission to Ābolītis. May be it was the usual practice for the soldiers on leave with billet.
• The letter was sent to the Lutheran Pastor, as far as I understand. The Lutheran Pastors could not join in matrimony an Orthodox person, so the marriage was contracted in an Orthodox church, if it happened, of course. In case the bride was Lutheran, the call of the banns was also to be performed in the Lutheran church, however.
• I could not decipher the signature of the judge, I have only found he signed in Russian.