Abarth, O.S.F. Father Dionysius, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1866 December

Abarth petitions in the name of a certain Joseph Brinkman for a dispensation. After the death of his wife he married her sister before a protestant minister. Now he desires dispensations to save them from the scandal of a divorce and to enable them to be married in the church. The second woman was educated in Protestantism and now manifests zeal to be a Catholic, the couple have lived in the state now for 9 years, and the children have received Catholic instruction. P.S.—He adds a case concerning a girl now 14 who has doubts about her baptism because of the early death of her mother, and the lack of religion of her father, who disappeared shortly after her birth. The priests who were there at the time also share the doubt. Abarth asks Purcell what to do in this case. :: II-5-c A.L.S. 3pp. Latin 12mo.