I'm convinced that those folks who use witness for census information even
if the person wasn't present at the time the census was taken are using it
as they interpret it.
On the Italian records that I have seen, there are 2 witnesses to the
signing of the document the Mayor completes after the birth of a child.
There are also 2 witnesses to the signing of the document after the death of
a person, there are 4 witnesses present when a couple presents themselves to
the Mayor saying they want to get married, and 2 witnesses to the signing of
the civil marriage document. The witnesses' names, ages, occupations and
sometimes parentage are written on the document. Wonderful information for a
genealogist. Most times the witnesses cannot write so they don't sign their
name, but they are present for the event, but when they do write their
names, it's even more exciting to see a signature that may be 150 years old.
But I digress.
Ruth (Sconza Testa) Nerud
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