Hello Sid, You are welcome. As to who wrote these records, I'm sure we will never know! I believe they were written by Eliza Chance, simply because all of her marriages and all of her children were recorded. Also, recorded were some of Thomas Boring's children that were from his marriage (2nd) to Margaret Irvin. None of the children from Thomas Borings first marriage are listed. However, the 1860 census abstract I have shows Thomas, age 52 and Elizabeth Bowden, age 38, with the following children, Ely W, age 26 John (Irvin) age 23 George W, age 22 Joseph D, age 17 James, age 14 Rebecca, age 12 William age 4 and Thomas H, age 2 Thomas and Eliza had been married 5 years at the time of this census, so it is apparent she helped raise Thomas' children from his marriage to Margaret Irvin, which might explain why they are listed in the bible. Just my theory! I do believe many entries were written by the same person. It is also likely they may have been written at approximately the same time, which makes me question the validity of every date. Some of these dates have been proven by me, the majority have not. I use them only as a guide. Regarding the marriage of Thomas Boring and Margaret Irvin, I have an uncertified copy of the marriage license of Thomas Boring and Margaret Ann Ervin that I obtained from the Marion County Clerk in 1999, as follows: side one The State of Illinois } Marion County } SCT. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS-GREETING. KNOW YE, That License and Permission is hereby given to any person authorized by law to solemnize the RIGHTS OF MATRIMONY, to join together as husband and wife, Mr. Thomas Boring and Mrs. Margaret Ann Ervin according to the usual custom and the laws of the State of Illinois; and for so doing, this shall be his sufficient warrant. {seal} IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of the County Commissioners' Court of said County, at Salem this 17th day of September 1842 W W___ace CLERK side 2 Thomas Boring & M A Ervin License State of Illinois} Marion County} Ss. I certify that on the eighteent day of Sept. AD. 1842 I joined in matrimony Thomas Boring and Margaret Ann Ervin according to the usual custom and the laws of of the state of Illinois. Sep. 19th 1842 Justus R. Ryman M.G. The spelling and grammar errors are not mine, they belong to the Justus! It appears the license was issued on the 17th, marriage performed on the 18th and certified by the Justice on the 19th, all of September, 1842. Sorry to be so long, but hope this helps! Best Regards, Cheryle In a message dated 5/27/01 2:00:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > Thank you, Cheryle. These dates are more compatible with census data so I > guess I have the right household located in the 1850 census. Can you tell > me the name of the individual who probably wrote those entries in that > bible, if it is known? > > I have the marriage date of Thomas J. Boring and Margaret Irwin as 17 Sep > 1842 in Marion County, book A, page 16. > > Sid