Quakers believe that no man or woman can join two people, but only God can. Friends have traditionally exchanged vows with each other in the presence of Friends and Family. Since there was no priest or minister to witness the wedding, U.S. law historically did not recognize the marriages, so Quakers created a certificate with their written vows. It is then signed by the couple and all in attendance. Therefore Quaker marriages were not performed by a Justice of the Peace and since Edward was an Episcopal this would not be an approved Quaker marriage. If Caroline was the Quaker she would have been dis-owned because of marring outside and to a non-Quaker. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 12:42 PM Subject: [PABUCKS] Quaker Marriage Contract, 1853 > The following transcription of a marriage registration in Bucks County > (1853) raises some questions for a neophyte researcher like me. > > 1. The response to "By what ceremony contracted" is "Friends." I > understand that to mean Quaker, but were Quaker marriages usually > performed by a Justice of the Peace (I am assuming that William Blakey, J > P" indicates that he is a Justice of the Peace)? > > 2. Caroline Haddonfield had a child prior to this marriage. Haddonfield > was her maiden name. If she had been married previously, wouldn't her > married name have been used on this registration? > > 3.Edward Bushrod Johnson was raised in the Episcopal Curch (his father was > a reverend). Is this an approved Quaker marriage, or one done outside the > church? > > Thanks for your help! > > LDS Film #0927590 > > Registration of Marriages in the County of Bucks, folio 15 > > Marriage of Edward Johnson > And Caroline Haddonfield > > 1. Full name of husband Edward Johnson > 2. Name of the father of said husband William Johnson > 3. Name of the mother of said husband Analiza Johnson > 4. Occupation of husband Farmer > 5. Residence of husband Middletown Twp., Bucks Co. > 6. Birth place of husband [left blank] > 7. Full name of wife previously to marriage > Caroline Haddonfield > 8. Name of the father of said wife > Joseph Haddonfield > 9. Name of the mother of said wife > Hannah Haddonfield > 10. The time when the marriage was contracted October 27th 1853 > 11. The place, town or township and county where contracted Middletown > Twp, Bucks Co. > 12. The color White > 13. By what ceremony contracted > Friends > 14. Name of the person pronouncing marriage > Wm. Blakey, J.P. > 15. Date of certificate [left blank] > 16. Date of registration Dec. 5, 1853 > 17. Signature of the register or his deputy > Wm. Thompson [signed in the handwriting found in the > rest of the record] > > > Steve Balcom > [email protected] > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >