The NC marriage collection on ancestry.com records a marriage between Jas. Pearce and Alice Virginia Hales on 17 Jun 1894 in Johnston Co. My great-grandfather's son from his first marriage, James Gibson Pearce (1869-1943) said that he was widowed in the 1900 census, but in 1910 he said his marriage in 1905 in Wake Co. to Nona Arnold was his first marriage. I'm wondering if Alice Hales could have been his short-lived first wife, but when I wrote to the NC Archives for a copy of the marriage license, they said they didn't have one. Does anyone know anything about Alice Hales (b. 1873, daughter of John and Emma Hales)? Or can anyone suggest someplace else I should write to try and get a copy of the marriage info? Thanks. Joanne Pearce Gaudio