What possible reasoning would prompt a couple from Blacklick PA and Homer City PA to travel Wellsburg WV in December 1923 to be married? The marriage certificate shows the witnesses as being a Presbyterian minister and his wife but doesn't state that the ceremony was performed in a church. As far as I know, there were no relatives in the area. Was there a train service or would the trip have to be made by car? > > Did Pennsylvania have restrictions that West Virginia did not? > > Any help most appreciated. John
A lot of people in PA back then eloped to West Virginia. My grandparents were married in Beech Bottom, which I believe was a popular destination. I don't know if it's true, but my mother told me that you had to be 21 in PA to marry without parental consent. <<What possible reasoning would prompt a couple from Blacklick PA and Homer City PA to travel Wellsburg WV in December 1923 to be married?>> Tom
I'm pretty sure that is exactly the answer, train service. My parents also were married in Wellsburg,WV and they went from Green County PA in 1933. If you don't get any answers, I will give my mom a call and see what she has to say. Doreen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Merrill Turley" <maturley@cox.net> To: <PAINDIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 12:24 PM Subject: [INDIANA] Marriage Query 1923 > What possible reasoning would prompt a couple from Blacklick PA and Homer City PA to travel Wellsburg WV in December 1923 to be married? The marriage certificate shows the witnesses as being a Presbyterian minister and his wife but doesn't state that the ceremony was performed in a church. As far as I know, there were no relatives in the area. Was there a train service or would the trip have to be made by car? > > > > Did Pennsylvania have restrictions that West Virginia did not? > > > > Any help most appreciated. John > > > ==== PAINDIAN Mailing List ==== > List problems??? > Email the listowner <PAINDIAN-admin@rootsweb.com> >
John, Wellsburg, WV was a 'hot spot' for people who wanted to get married and did not meet PA's age requirements in the early 1900's. In the 1880's and 1890's people went from Wheeling to Bellaire, OH to get married 'quietly'. For some reason in the 1950's and 1960's people from western PA went to Winchester, VA. Perhaps WV and OH changed their standards? Pat
My Mom and Dad married in 1920. At that time they could connect to passenger trains from Cherry Tree in Indiana Co. and they went to Cumberland Md. That is just across the border. There was no waiting period and they were not 21. They went to the courthouse and got a license and then went to a minister and were married in the rectory. His wife was their witness. They stayed overnight and went back home the next day. My Mom (aged 102) is still sharp as a tack. I will write and ask her if that also was the reason people went to W.Va. When I was in H.S. in the 50's people also ran away (or talked about it) to Maryland.
My paternal grandparents from Westmoreland County also eloped to Wellsburg, WV they took a Greyhound Bus from Pittsburgh. He was 22 but she was 17 and her father was against them marrying. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: Merrill Turley<mailto:maturley@cox.net> To: PAINDIAN-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:PAINDIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 12:24 PM Subject: [INDIANA] Marriage Query 1923 What possible reasoning would prompt a couple from Blacklick PA and Homer City PA to travel Wellsburg WV in December 1923 to be married? The marriage certificate shows the witnesses as being a Presbyterian minister and his wife but doesn't state that the ceremony was performed in a church. As far as I know, there were no relatives in the area. Was there a train service or would the trip have to be made by car? > > Did Pennsylvania have restrictions that West Virginia did not? > > Any help most appreciated. John ==== PAINDIAN Mailing List ==== List problems??? Email the listowner <PAINDIAN-admin@rootsweb.com<mailto:PAINDIAN-admin@rootsweb.com>>