Westphalia (Westfalen) Court Records

Verdicts against witches
To bring an indictment against witches was much more common in Protestant Germany than it was among Catholics. Court regulations concerning torture were closely observed. Witchcraft was supposed to be punished with penance to make amends for actual damages. However, in Protestant regions such guidelines were intensified because witchcraft was viewed as collaboration with the devil and such acts were always worthy of death. Mainly women were involved, but men and children were not spared. The accused was to confess under torture and show remorse and was to denounce accomplices. The following procedure was to be ensued: See http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexenverfolgung (the text is in German. By hi lighting the URL and putting it into Google language tools, translate a website (choosing German to English) a rough translation is provided by Wikipedia.

There are some records available on procedures against witches in Westfalen. www.familysearch.org Family History Library Catalog, International film 1945963 shows some Ratsprotokolle (city records) of Rüthen (Möhne).

Heiratskonsens
All those who were able to get a Konsens (consensus) from their manor lord or the corresponding authorities in the city (city administration, magistrate, guilds etc.) were able to marry. The reason for such restrictive measures was mainly to assure the support of a family. Not everyone was allowed to marry. If Konsens was denied, there could be problems with marrying beneath ones standing, as was often the case with officers, administrators or members of the nobility, there could be relationship issues, religious differences. People had to apply for Konsens when one partner came from out of town.

There are some applications filmed for the city of Iserlohn.The records are on International film number 2390049. The film can be ordered through the FamilySearch support system at local Family History Centers.

Prussia-Westfalen: Court Records