The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-03-01
AN ACT for regulating Marriage and for
the orderly determination thereof

AN ACT for regulating Marriage and for
the orderly solemnizalion thereof
e. ID + IL enacted b. tie Senate and House Of
oh0' ID Representatives. IN legislature asseni-
Died. That TO man or woman shall ntermarry
within the degrees hereafter named, that to say
NO Man shall marry his -N0WOman shall nruns her
Mother, Father,
Grandmother, Grandfather,
Daughter. son,
Son. Daughter, Sons Son,
Daughter Daughter, Daughters Son,
Step Mother, Step Father.
Graudfather's Wife, Grandmoibers Husband,
Sons Wife, Daughters Husband,
Sons Sons Wife, SON Daug liter slfusband,
Daughters Sons Wife, DaughiersDaughiers III us
Wifes Mother, Husbands Father band,
G;sr's Grandmother, Husbands Gre ndfather,
Wifes Daughter, Husbands Son,
Wife's Sons Daughter, Husbands Sons Son,
Wae's Daug htefs Daugh- Husband sDaug ersSon,
Sister, ter, Brother,
Brothers Daughter, Brothers Son,
Sisters Daughter, Sisters Sou,
Fathers Sister, Fathers Brother,
Mothers Sister. Mothers Brother
And If any or woman shall ntermarry
within the degrees aforesaid, every such marriage
shall be deemed, taken and adjudged incestious,
and shall be null and void.
SECT. .. BE II further enacted, That all mar
riages where either Of the parties shall have for
mer wife or husband living al the time Of s-ch mar
rage, and al marriages between any white person
and any Negro Indian or Mulato shall be absolute
By void.
seer. ,. Be AZ further enacted, That every
Justice Of the Peace, and also every ordained min
ister OF the Gospel, who shall be duly appointed
and commissioned for that purpose by the Cover
nor with the advice Of Council be and they respect
lively are authorized and empowered 10 solemnize
marriages within the County, where they reside
between persons who may lawfully enter into that
relation, when one or both Of the parties resi-
dent within the county in which such Justice OF
Minister resides.
SECT. 4. Be Il further endcfed, That the Gov
ernor with the advice OF Council be, and he is au-
thorized to appoint and commission such ordained
ministers of the gospel, as the public good may re-
qnIre TO solemnize marriages within the County IN
which they may reside who shall hold the said Of
fee during bis pleasure and said commission shall
be conclusive evidence that the person herein
named is an ordained minister Of the Gospel and
whenever said commission shall be revoked an al
tested copy Of such revocation shall De filed in the
Office of the Clerk Of said County.
Seer. 5. Be IL further enacted, That all person.
desiring TO be joined in marriage, shall have suct
their intentions published at three public religious
meetings on different days, at three days distanc,
exclusively, al least, from each other in the tow
>ar plantation wherein they respectively dwell, q
Shall have their intentions Of marriage posted up bs
he Clerk Of such town plantation, fourteen day
in some public place. within the same town OF plan
tation fairly written, aud shall also produce 10 tbs
Jnstice or Minister who shall be desired to MARI,
them, a certificate Of such punishment, under ths
hand Of the Clerk OF such town or plantation re-
spectively: and where male under tweDiy-ons
years or female under eighteen years Of age, Is 4
pe married the consent of the parent or guardian OF
other person, whose immediate care and govern
Eent sueh party u under, # within the State, shat
be first bad 70 such marriage and m case th'