-----Original Message----- From: Frank Comstock [mailto:ri1654@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:58 AM To: MA-MENDON-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MA-MENDON] Bellingham Records - Sarah Bates . . . Here's the mystery: When I posted a similar query some time ago, Susan Roe responded with information from what I think was a transcribed and printed record of Bellingham Vital Records, that Benjamin Hall of Cumberland RI and Mrs. Sarah Bates filed an intention of marriage at Bellingham on Jan 22, 1797. As Susan correctly pointed out, the reference to Mrs. Sarah Bates indicates she was probably a widow at the time, which could mean her maiden name was not Bates. . . . -------------------------- Sue's rule of thumb usually holds true, that if the title "Mrs." is used in a woman's marriage record, it would indicate that she had previously been married. I have come across exceptions to this, one place being in the records of Bristol, Bristol Co., MA (now RI) where the title was used with almost all of the brides' names in the time period around the 1750's. It may have been as a title of respect or could have been used to indicate that the bride was of age. It got me curious about Bellingham, so I checked their marriage records and found that "Mrs." was used for almost all of the brides who married from 1740 to 1798. Note that I just checked the first two surnames--Adams and Albee. (See the list below.) There were 21 marriages but only two of the brides were not referred to either as Mrs. or as a widow. I think it's safe to assume that not all 19 of the others were widows. Bellingham records in the mid to late 1700's seem to be one of those exceptions where the title of Mrs. did not indicate a previous marriage. ADAMS, Abigail, Mrs., and Moses Daniels, int. Dec. 14, 1766. Amos and Mrs. Abigal Thayer, int. Nov. 8, 1779. Caleb and Meletiah Holbrook, wid., int. Mar. 31, 1799. Hipzibah, Mrs., of Medway, and Stephen Metcalf, int. Apr. 16, 1757. Levi and Mrs. Olive Gould, int. Oct. 20, 1797. Obadiah and Sarah Partridge, int. June 23, 1744. <<<<<<<< Olive, Mrs., and David Daniels, int. Dec. 31, 1770. Olive [int. adds Mrs.] and John Clark, July 15, 1798. Samuel and Mrs. Chloe Legg, Aug. 14, 1777. Silas and Mrs. Mary Parker, int. July 10, 1768. Silas and Mrs. Olive Mason [int. wid., omits Mrs.], Aug. 20, 1794. ALBEE Abigail, Mrs., of Mendon, and Seth Hall, May 28, 1737. Abner of Mendon, and Mrs. Cate Penniman, int. Aug. 20, 1774. Alpheus of Milford, and Mrs. Susannah Phillips, Mar. 31, 1796. Beulah, Mrs., and Joseph Ellexander, int. Jan. 15, 1797. Deborah, Mrs., of Mendon, and Daniel Bullard, int. Oct. 16, 1774. Elizabeth, wid., and Ellixander Kelley, int. Feb. 2, 1797. John of Medway, and Huldah Thayer [int. adds wid.], May 9, 1799. Sarah [int. adds wid.] and Samuel Penniman, Sept. 19, 1799. Thomas of Mendon, and Jemima Thomson, int. June 2, 1750. <<<<<< Zurial of Mendon, and Mrs. Anna Penniman, int. Jan. 12, 1776. Jim Bullock Littleton, CO