Since so many of the Pioneers were from Virginia, I thought you might be interested in this. _Click here: Virginia Marriage Laws_ (http://www.wvculture.org/history/marriagelaws.html) Sharon Lee Gates

Sharon, I know you were interested in finding Harriet's parents. So, when I was at the court house I took a look at Daniel Baltzell's deeds and found two of interest. In 1837 Daniel and wife Margaret sold to son Thomas Baltzell for $500 part of garden lot 16. Then in 1839 Daniel alone, which implies to me that Margaret had died, sold to Harriet, wife of Moses Gates, for $100 lot 17 except for 33 feet already sold to Thomas Baltzell and also "in consideration of a certain Bond or obligation bearing ? dates herewith, for one thousand dollars, executed by the said Moses Gates, conditioned for my maintainenance during my natural life, the receipt of which I hereby acknowledge".... Then Harriet would have "her heirs and assigns as an estate of inheritance in fee simple forever" which simply means the property is hers. Nothing here tells me that Harriet is his daughter, but it does show Thomas is definitely a son and that Margaret was Daniel's wife and that she had died between 1837 and 1839. It shows that Moses and Harriet Gates will be taking care of Daniel the rest of his life and that Thomas and Harriet now own adjoining lots once owned by Daniel and Margaret. Henny Evans > >