Listers, I don't know how many of you know this fact, but in the 1800's & early 1900's the woman was not required to be present when a marriage liscense was issued. The parents listed for her cannot be relied upon because the man may not have known who they were or if she had a step-mother or two or three. In other words any man could go in and order a marriage liscense if he thought the lady would be willing to marry him. Sometimes you will see where a liscense was issued but not completed.

That is an interesting tidbit of information you have passed on about marriage licenses. I had never heard that before. I know that very often you find a license issued and it shows "no return". I never was sure whether the preacher just didn't get to the court house with his record, or what happened. There are several early marriages listed under licenses in Blount Co TN that all say "no return. In those cases I have the theory that these couples had been married by a minister some time previously, but then when the county was formed and started their records some of these people took out a license thinking that they then had it legally recorded. In some cases there were children who appeared to be older than the date the license was issued. Marian ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:01 PM Subject: Re: [VALEE] REBECCA WILLIS > Listers, > > I don't know how many of you know this fact, but in the 1800's & > early 1900's the woman was not required to be present when a marriage liscense was > issued. The parents listed for her cannot be relied upon because the man may > not have known who they were or if she had a step-mother or two or three. In > other words any man could go in and order a marriage liscense if he thought > the lady would be willing to marry him. Sometimes you will see where a > liscense was issued but not completed. > > > ==== VALEE Mailing List ==== > Please avoid flaming (attacking) any single person or the group. This infraction will earn you immediate removal from the list. > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >

Would you know at what age a female could obtain her own marriage license without the consent of a male family member or a person who stood good for her. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:01 PM Subject: Re: [VALEE] REBECCA WILLIS > Listers, > > I don't know how many of you know this fact, but in the 1800's & > early 1900's the woman was not required to be present when a marriage liscense was > issued. The parents listed for her cannot be relied upon because the man may > not have known who they were or if she had a step-mother or two or three. In > other words any man could go in and order a marriage liscense if he thought > the lady would be willing to marry him. Sometimes you will see where a > liscense was issued but not completed. > > > ==== VALEE Mailing List ==== > Please avoid flaming (attacking) any single person or the group. This infraction will earn you immediate removal from the list. > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.3 - Release Date: 4/25/05 >