The Benevento formulary - State of Souls


When and how to make the survey

Images and translation of the formula and explanatory text for making a state of Souls register, published by the Archbishop of Benevento in the early 18th century. The book gave instructions to priests for recording baptism, confirmation, marriage, state of Souls and burial, the five registers that Catholic priests were required to keep. Follow links in the translated passages to see the next section of this document.

FORMULA

For describing the state of Souls in the fourth Parish book.

Each Parish Priest, after the first Sunday of quartisima1, and not after Easter, must describe the state of Souls of his Parish, and leaving between one Family and the next a little space, write accurately the name, surname and age, not only of those, who are of the same Family, but also the Forestieri 2 who live with them.

If a person is a communicant note this in the margin with the sign C.

If a person is confirmed note this in the margin with the sign Cr.

If a person is a confirmed and a communicant note this in the margin with the signs C and Cr.

If this family has left to live elsewhere, note this with the sign .

The Formula follows

Index

Notes

1 quartisima
2 Forestieri
Outsiders. Used here in the sense of people belonging to the household but not to the family such as lodgers.