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Ute
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Joined: 13 Dec 2009
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 5:35 am Post subject: Translation of death record in Latin

I would very much appreciate a translation of the attached death record of my ancestor Jacobus Rol -- the comment on his marriage to Rozalia Bryjak and the cause of death. If I understand it correctly, he committed suicide by hanging himself "in dementia" at age 35 years. Does that mean he was dement at age 35 ys and put an end to his life e.g. out of depression? I also don't quite understand the comment on his marriage that looks like "maritis derelictae consentis" -- does that mean their marriage failed and they were separated by agreement?
Thank you very much in advance for your help in this matter.
Ute

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dnowicki
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Translation of death record in Latin

Ute wrote:

Ute,

The explanation follows.

I would very much appreciate a translation of the attached death record of my ancestor Jacobus Rol -- the comment on his marriage to Rozalia Bryjak and the cause of death. If I understand it correctly, he committed suicide by hanging himself "in dementia" at age 35 years. Does that mean he was dement at age 35 ys and put an end to his life e.g. out of depression?
Yes. It means that he hung himself and the presumption is that he was not in his right mind at that time. Suicide was considered felo de se—a crime against oneself or in other words self murder. The presumption is that a person who was in their right mind would not have committed such an act and thus lacked culpability for their action. Death by hanging oneself was a tough way to go—it usually took quite a long time to die by strangulation, which gave the person time to repent of their action. In literature such a death is often described as “doing the dance of death” which describes the movement of the legs searching for a solid surface to use to relieve the pressure and thus to regain the ability to breathe. The record, of course, cannot say how long the state of madness existed nor what caused it but it makes it clear that he was not in his right mind at the time he hung himself. The practical consequence in Catholic society was that the suicide could have a Catholic funeral and burial in consecrated ground, which would have been of comfort to the family. In contemporary parlance the actions of the Catholic Church at that time could be termed “non judgmental”.

I also don't quite understand the comment on his marriage that looks like "maritis derelictae consentis" -- does that mean their marriage failed and they were separated by agreement?
NO. How the Latin actually reads is “Jacobus Ral maritus derelictæ consortis Rosaliæ natæ Bryjak agric(ola)” which is translated “Jakub Rol, a farmer, the husband of the surviving wife Rozalia born Bryjak”. (Derelictæ literally is “left behind”. The endings are written as “æ” to indicate that the letters form a diphthong rather than two syllables.)

All the best,

Dave

Ute
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Joined: 13 Dec 2009
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Location: Germany
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Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2026 2:16 am Post subject: Translation of death record in Latin

Dave, Thank you very much for translating and explaining the remarks in the church record concerning the death circumstances and familial relationship of my ancestor so well! We'll never know what caused him to commit suicide (he left behind his wife and three children, the youngest was only four months old at the time). It is very sad, but it is indeed of comfort to know that he still could have had a Catholic funeral and burial in consecrated ground. Thank you again, Dave!

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