Hi, The modern date for the marriage of John Fale/Fail to Mary Hatcher Elam would definitely be 3 Jan 1798. Gilbert Elam the former husband of Mary didn't sign his will until September 1797, so the marriage must be in 1798. The date of 29 Dec 1797 comes from the book "The Fail/Faile/Fails Family Trail" by Welton Ruel Fail. But I don't know what the source was. So I would go with the date in the St. John's Church records. Sorry for the confusion, haven't had my coffee yet! Cynthia