I have been interested in the discussions on the "marrying tree", since I have been told both my grandparents and great-grandparents were married there. It was supposed to have been a popular place for young couples who were "eloping" because the legal age to marry without parental consent was lower in Tennessee than in Kentucky. Perhaps someone can confirm that. My mother told me in the old days couples were married in their buggies or wagons under the "marrying tree", and she remembered seeing her parents' wedding photo taken under the tree--in grandpa's buggy. It is interesting that the tradition was carried on into the automobile age! -----Original Message----- From: James Thompson <seclusaval@wk.net> To: KYJacksonPurchase-L@rootsweb.com <KYJacksonPurchase-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, September 25, 1999 1:11 PM Subject: [KYJacksonPurchase-L] Old Chestnut Tree >My parents and Great grandparents, at least, were married at the Old >Chestnut Tree, Henry County Tenn. The site is located on the Old Murray and >Paris Road at the Tennessee State Line. Of course there is no longer a >"Chestnut tree" since the Chestnut blight killed all of them. To get to the >location, go east from Hazel on the State Line Road. At the first stop sign >out of Hazel (about 2 miles) turn right on the Old Murray and Paris Road. >The state line, and the location of the "Old Chestnut Tree" is a few hundred >yards south, on the east side of the road. > >My parents were married there. It was raining and the preacher drove from >Paris and met them. Mom and Dad sat in their car, the preacher in his, and >performed the Wedding. Just like a drive in wedding chapel. I don't know >why the Chestnut tree was such a popular marring spot, but I had always >assumed there was on "waiting period" in Tennessee for a license. > >Jim Thompson > > >==== KYJacksonPurchase Mailing List ==== >Interested in learning more about US Land & Property Research? Go to: > http://users.arn.net/~billco/uslpr.htm to see the free on-line course in this subject >authored by the KYJP Listowner. > >