Abstract

The population of Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies, consists of descendants of French peasants who emigrated to the West Indies nearly three centuries ago. As in rural France, new households are formed on the island upon marriage. This study analyzes changes in marriage patterns that have occurred in the 99 years between 1878–1976. These changes include increase in marriage distance, increase in completed family size, increase in celibacy, decrease in the frequency of cousin marriage, and decrease in the percentage of mothers bearing children out of wedlock. The data are derived from the parochial and civil records of birth, death, and marriage of nearly 10,000 individuals. Despite changes in marriage patterns and modernization of the island, there has been little change in household form or the process of household formation.

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