If a couple is related in some way, they need to apply for a dispensation. The two ways to be related are by consanguinity (blood) or by affinity (your spouse dies, so you marry their brother or sister, i.e. the in-law).
1st degree: Rather rare. Uncle - niece, aunt-nephew. I think there's some other stuff as 1st degree. I think only once in the history of this list was a 1st degree posted. 2nd degree: 1st cousins 3rd degree: 2nd cousins 4th degree: 3rd cousins After that, the Catholic church did not care. If a couple were related, a dispensation had to be applied for. They don't necessarily follow a format. The ones I saw (Sao Miguel island ancestry) had a interview with the groom and one with the bride. Ask how they met, why they wanted to marry. Said how they were related. So if you are at a point where you are running out of records (because they don't exist anymore) you may find a few more generations in a dispensation. HOWEVER, not all dispensations exist either. Currently, Joao Ventura, the archivist can look for a dispensation for you. You need to be able to provide him with the marriage where it says they were related and he will get back to you with his fees. heroi99 at yahoo.com All existing dispensations for all 9 Azores islands are house in the archives in Angra, as the Diocese seat for the Azores is in Angra. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores.
