According to my mother, there is still a practice in those areas where preachers are rare and a circuit preacher comes around once a year or less. The couple will declare themselves and go ahead and live together until the preacher finally shows up. Then, they get married legally. This could be a couple of years or more if there was a change in preachers and the second was a while in being found. Diane Wrightsman wrote: > > Okay, Botetourt County experts - help me on this one. Here's the scenario: > > My 4th great-grandfather, John Wrightsman Sr, was an early settler in the > county. He married Christian(e) Coulter 29 Aug 1784. > > New (to me!) information from "Botetourt County, Virginia, Early Settlers" > has recorded "Christena" as his wife (on a deed) as early as 1780. > > Now, I know that an earlier wife with the name Christena is not impossible, > but it is not likely. > > My question is this: how common was it in this area and time for a man and > woman to live together as husband and wife without the "benefit of clergy?" > Something is nagging at my memory that it was actually quite common. > > If, indeed, they were not married, how is it that her name would have been > on the deed? > > Thanks for your help! > > Diane Wrightsman > > ==== VABOTETO Mailing List ==== > Planning a Family Reunion? Post your schedule at URL: > http://members.aol.com/camorrison/vareunio/reunion.htm