This would seem to be a very early version of a prenuptial agreement! Two articles about Mary Carson Lee Driver are in the archives: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/pike/newspapers/nw178inmemory.txt http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/pike/obits/ob1499driver.txt and true to the deed, Gile Driver's will is also in the archives thanks again to Bill Russell: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/pike/wills/wl285driver.txt ----- Original Message ----- From: "GAGenWeb Archives" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 11:03 AM Subject: [GAPIKE] Ga-Pike Co. Deed (Driver) > > Pike County GaArchives Deed.....Lee, Mary - Driver, Giles June 2, 1869 > ************************************************ > Copyright. All rights reserved. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gafiles.htm > ************************************************ > > File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: > William Russell [email protected] April 1, 2006, 11:03 am > > Written: June 2, 1869 > Recorded: July 19, 1869 > > Georgia > Pike County > > This indenture made this the 2nd day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen > hundred and sixty nine between Giles Driver of the County & State aforesaid of > the one part & Mary Lee of the same place of the other part. Witnesth that > whereas the said Giles Driver & Mary Lee have consented and agreed to be > united in the holy bonds of wedlock & for the purpose of adjusting & forever > setting their marital rights in contemplation of said marriage, do agree by > these present, that the said Mary Lee shall own & possess in her own right > free from the debts or liabilities of the said Giles Driver all the property > she owns at the time of her said intermarriage to dispose of on her death by > Will or otherwise [?] to said Giles Driver the joint use of the same & > possession thereof during his natural life - the said Giles Driver on his > part agrees that his executors or administrators at his death shall invest > three hundred dollars of his estate in lands or real estate for the exclusive > benefit & use of the said Mary Lee during her life or widowhood & on the death > or marriage of the said Mary the said land so purchased the paid three hundred > dollars to return to the estate to be distributed among the heirs or > distributees of the estate of said Giles Driver but if the said Giles Driver > should survive the said Mary then the then this provision is to be void & and > of non effect. And the said Mary by these present expressly accepts paid [?] > of three hundred dollars in lieu of [?] in the estate of the said Giles Driver > & also waives all right to any portion of the property of said Giles Driver > otherwise. In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have hereto set their > hands & seals the day & year above written. > > Giles Driver > Mary Lee (her mark) > > In presence of > L. J. Green > W. R. Hollon J. P.