Hello Kathy, I have a couple of marriage licenses from Stark Co, OH with similar wording. I found that a person who knew either or both the bride and groom had to assure the court that these people were of legal age to marry and that one was a resident of Stark Co, OH. Since you said James Gray was born in PA and that is where they lived after marriage, I suspect that Frank Rastetter was a friend, known by Lena Reichard, and agreed to vouch for them at court. Strangely enough, I have some Rastetters (also found as Rastettor) and Richard's (Sometimes spelled Reichard) in my family tree, although no Frank Rastetter. Pat >From: [email protected] >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: [OHSTARK] Marriage License Question >Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 18:26:26 EST > >Recently I acquired the marriage license for my great grandparents, James >W. >Gray and Lena Reichard, who were married on April 8, 1886, in Stark County. >What I don't understand is the wording of the license: > >"Frank A. Rastetter applying for a license for James W. Gray and Lena >Reichard to be married together, makes oath and says that James W. Gray is >aged over >twenty-one years, and said Lena Reichard is aged over eighteen years, and >resides in said Stark County, that both of them are unmarried, and not akin >to >each other, or not nearer akin than second cousins, and that both are able >and >competent to enter into the marriage contract." It is then signed by Frank >A. >Rastetter. > >My question is, who is Frank A. Rastetter and why is he applying for the >marriage license for this couple? I looked for him in the census and >found a >Frank Rastetter in Massilon in 1900, age 35, a bartender. In 1910 I found >a >Frank A. Rastetter in Canton, age 46, a Gold Jointer in a Watch Factory. >I did >not find anyone who appeared to be a court official. > >Can anyone explain this to me? Also, the minister who married them was >J.W. >Toland. Does anyone know his denomination? > >Thank you. >Kathy > > >==== OHSTARK Mailing List ==== ><A HREF="http://www.massillon.lib.oh.us/"> >Massillon Public Library > _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/