Good afternoon Morgan County list members. I need a little help and/or information regarding indenture agreements and about adoptions. After reading the following, maybe you will have some suggestions. My great grandparents, Abram Wilson/Willson and Sarah Jane Nesmith, were married in neighboring Lawrence County on Oct 6, 1870. Why Lawrence County I do not know, as both he and his bride lived in Morgan Co. When I received copies of his marriage license, I also received a copy of a note giving Abram permission to marry. Evidently, at age 18, he was underage. His bride was of legal age to marry. Does anyone know what the legal age for marriage was in Morgan and Lawrence Counties back in 1870? I was hoping that these records would show the names of his parents but they did not. Instead, there was this note addressed to the probate judge in which it said, and spelling is shown as it was written: "Judge of probat of Lar????. county Ala. Sir This is to Sertify that you have the consint of H. H. Crosby & S. E. Crosby the Home of the Sed Abram Willson. I Sertify the above is True this October the 5, 1870 to grant lysens." This copy was the first time that I had seen my Wilson surname spelled with 2 L's. Neither I nor anyone in my Wilson line knows who these Crosby people were or why they had the authority to sign such a document. It has been suggested that perhaps Abram had either been adopted or had entered into an indentured position with these Crosbys to learn a trade. I think he would have been too young to buy land if he had to have permission to marry, so I don't think the indenture would be associated with the sale of land. I would like to find out where to search for adoption or indenture records in either Morgan County or Lawrence County. I'm guessing the time frame would be 1850's to 1860's for adoption and 1860's for the indenture record. I would also appreciate any suggestions or ideas about the above situation. What do you think it all means? Thanks for any and all help/suggestions. Paula