Decree, issued by William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse [Present-day Germany]: “Whereas We have noticed with dismay that many of the Jew-sons in Our lands marry too early […], We hereby order that said sons of Jews are no longer permitted to enter into marriage before having reached the age of twenty-five years, unless they have received Our most merciful dispensation beforehand.”
“Von Gottes Gnaden Wir Wilhelm, Landgraf zu Hessen, Fürst zu Herßfeld… [We, Wilhelm, by God’s Mercy Landgrave of Hesse, Prince of Hersfeld…],” 9/17/1744; Decrees Collection; AR 379; Box 1; Folder 75; Leo Baeck Institute. Researched by Dominik Jacobs 12/12/2019
“Von Gottes Gnaden Wir Wilhelm, Landgraf zu Hessen, Fürst zu Herßfeld… [We, Wilhelm, by God’s Mercy Landgrave of Hesse, Prince of Hersfeld…],” 9/17/1744; Decrees Collection; AR 379; Box 1; Folder 75; Leo Baeck Institute. Researched by Dominik Jacobs 12/12/2019