Fréquentation, Amour, Mariage au XVIIe siècle dans les villages du sud du Maine (2ème partie)

Abstract

This article follows the study of Courtship, Love, Marriage in the Eighteenth Century in the villages of the Upper Maine. Several phases appear, according to a relatively strict code. 1) Short courtship requiring an introduction but apparetly unknown to the parents. 2) Authorized courtship after a request from father to father. 3) Offering of gifts amongst which the pledge of mariage has a privileged place. The pledge evolves from the piece of silver money offered in public (first half of the century) to the ring offered in private. Acceptance of the pledge seals anengagement relatively difficult to break (Resorts to justice although the ritual loses some of its force in the second half of the century). 4) Official courtship after requer from suiter to father, visits of the family, marriage contract fréquent to correct custom law. The breach of promise may intervene at any moment. The study of specifie notarial acts again shows the role of the girls and the evolution from the social towards the individual phenomenon. Honour — even if its définition evolves — appears to be one of the essential and permanent values of the village world, and happiness is a new value, awakeningthe interest of a whole community. Between 1740 and 1780 this community seems to attain a culminating point of civilisation before the arrival of XIXth century values.