1683 – Marriage contract between Gisbert and Cattalyntie

Matrimonial contract, dated August 14, 1678, between Gisbert Dirksen and Cattalyntie Gerritz, protecting Dirksen from any debts from Gerritz’s first marriage.

Transcription:

In the Name of God Amen in the Yeare of or: Lord  and Sauior  Jesus Christ 1678; in ye 30^th Yeare  of ye Raighne of his most Royll: Maytie: Charles ye 2d: King of Great Brittaine etc the 14^th: day of august, appeared before ye afternamed witnesses Gisbert Dirksen borne att hop Emert, widdower of annettie Jans,  new bridgroom, on ye one and Cattalyntie Gerritz  born in the Citty of Bommell Widdow of Reyniersen Vander Coelen, being boath of them well Knowne unto us underwritten wittnesses; and Sence they the abovesd: parties doe Intend in ye feare of God to Joyne themselues in Mattrimony, and for prventing of all future Inconveniencies; and to ye End that ye partees may Live peaceably and Comfortably togeather they haue mutually agreed and Consented to make this their matrimoniall Contract in manner and forme following; first that Every one Shall brng in what Estate, hee hath, and out of ye Same Each party to pay out of their sd: proper owne Estate what debts they owe, wch: were created by their former marriadge before this date, and hee ye sd: Bridgroom doth declare, that his Estate is worth in moveables and Immooveable goods and also in debts, in all according to  appraizment & Computation ye Sume of Eight thousand Gilders of this Contry pay, in Contra the sd: Cattalyntic Gerritz doth declare (as is well Knowne unto us in what State hur former husband Left hur:) to bring in nothing more then ye: Cloaths belonging to hur boddy, ye wich Shee wth: hur owne hands Sence the departure of hur sd: husband has Earned, and Shee declares that Sence his sd: departure Shee hath not Received one penny of his, wich Shee desires, in case any Creditorrs: Should come upon hur, the Magistrates & Justices to take notice hereof and to free hur accordingly; and hee ye sd: Bridgroom doth further declare, by these prsents, that hee will not any wyse Conserne himselfe, nor haue any thing to doe, wth: his brides former Estate; but disannuls the same wholy as to himselfe; This they declare to bee their full Intent and doe desire Justice Peter Alrichs & D’haes, as also fopp Outhout; whoe are by ye bride Chosen for hur assistants to bee wittnesses hereunto and In confirmation thereof they haue hereunto Set their hands In New Castle datum Utsupra:-
                                      (:was Subscrybed by.)
In Margine Testor.                                       Gysbert Dirksen &
  (Signed)                                             Cattalyntie Gerritz –
Peter Alrichs –                           In ye absence of ye Clarke
Fop Outhout –                          Signed)
J: D’haes –                                                   fop Outhout.

Reference:

RG 2200.013 New Castle County Court Record Book A-B, page 278.
Transcript from: Records of the Court of New Castle on Delaware, Vol. II, 1681-1699, (Meadville, PA: Tribune Publishing, 1935), pp. 31-32.