Younger generations tend to think their forefathers prevented, even forbade the matrimony of poor people in the past. Examples of such exist in the 19th century when authorities tried to prevent a marriage of a poor man to a poor girl. However, such actions did not have much support in the law of that time.
In 1869, the issue was brought up at Althing when the question arose if it was not advisable to impede the freedom of poor and unpromising men to marry. This suggestion was brought up when three petitions from Múlasýsla, supported by 81 signatures, were presented in the Parliament.
This is nonsense, maintained one Member of Parliament, such issues had on numerous occasions been brought up in Althing, but authorities in Copenhagen refused to introduce stricter rules regarding the matrimony of the poor than already in existence.
And why does anyone here in this building suggest such a thing when in recent times “the freedom to marry has widened rather than tightened in Denmark”.
The great majority in Parliament supported this view. The fact remained that in the 19th century the poorest of poor could get married as long as certain conditions were met: the groom had to be over twenty years of age, the bride sixteen, both confirmed, had communicated, been vaccinated, were sane and free of leprosy. And, last but not least, no pastor had the right to marry people who were indebted to the local benefit fund. This last stipulation could be bypassed if the township council authorized the wedding. However, such authorizations were scarce, thorough research brought no results. It needs to be added that financial support of the poor was not a grant, it was a loan which every council member strove to have repaid.
The above was based on research by the Icelandic historian Jón Hjaltason and his article “Víst máttu bláfátækir giftast”. English version by Thor group