Marriage Record 1831 - 1866

MARRIAGE was not always the voluntary proceeding we now find it. It was compulsory among the Greeks. The Spartans could not tolerate celibacy, and by the laws of Lycurgus criminal proceedings could be taken against those who married too late or unsuitably, as well as against those who did not marry at all. It went hard with the latter. Should any man remain single beyond a certain age he was publicly scorned, and was made to do penance by walking naked in the winter through the market place, singing a satirical song on himself. In the French settlement of Canada women were sent over after the men, and the single men, that they might be forced to marry, were subjected to heavy taxation and to restrictions on their trade and their movements generally. Those who married were dealt with, on the other hand, in a generous spirit. Not only were they provided with a good wife and comfortable home, but they were awarded according to the number of their offspring. The father of ten children was pensioned for life at the rate of 300 livres a year. If he had twelve children the allowance was increased to 400 livres, and it went up to 1,200 livres when fifteen children blessed the union. The conditions were reversed in the English colonies, for there the settlers eagerly welcomed the other sex, and did not hesitate to pay traders heavily in tobacco weight for every marriageable woman they brought over. As far back, however, as 1695 the local authorities of Eastham in Massachusetts voted that every unmarried man in the township should kill six blackbirds or three crows yearly while he remained single, producing the scalps in proof, and as a penalty for not obeying the order he was forbidden to marry until he had made up all arrears. The requirement in this case was almost nominal; but it was not so in Maryland, where half a century later the Colonial Assembly imposed a tax of five shillings yearly upon all bachelors above thirty-five years of age (and on widowers without children) who were possessed of £300. There was a similar graduated tax on bachelors in England in the reign of William III. Any commoner who was a bachelor at twenty-five had to pay a shilling fine, yearly, and the amount was increased in accordance with rank or title, any ducal offender being taxed to the extent of £12 10s. yearly. The taxes grew heavier before they were removed, and the time came when bachelors were called upon to pay an extra tax on their servants. Thus we see the old states as well as young ones have found out that their prosperity depends upon its married citizens. The best subjects, as Lord Bacon points out, are those in this relationship, the reason he gives for this conclusion being that single are " light to runaway," while "he that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune."

The marriage record of Spoon River precinct of Putnam county, from 1831 to 1839, is as follows :

During this time a license was issued to Minott Silliman, but as the ceremony was not performed in Putnam county the document and certificate were recorded at St. Louis in 1833.

The marriage of Harris W. Miner and Miss Nancy Gross, in the winter of 1831-2, was the first between white American settlers within the bounds of Stark county. Squire Hiram M. Curry, of Peoria county, was the celebrant. In 1832 Nero W. Mounts married the Widow Martindale. Squire Benjamin Smith officiating.

"In February, 1834," says Mrs; Shallenburger, "there was a wedding at the house of James Holgate, of which we can still learn something. This was between a gentleman by the name of McClure and a sister of Mrs. Holgate, Miss Marsh. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John Dodge, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Seeley and Jesse Heath. Whether Squire Smith or some wandering preacher performed the ceremony, Mr. Holgate did not inform us, but said he had, in 1834, but a cabin sixteen feet square, and well filled with the usual comforts of pioneer life. They took the door from its hinges to add to the table, and as the weather was mild for the season, the men stood outside while the feast was spread. Then 'bee gums' were brought in and puncheons laid on them for seats, and they had an excellent dinner, no scarcity of anything but room. The repast over, the men had again to retire to the 'sky parlor' until the table could be cleared and the door restored to its place, when they all managed to get inside and had a gay time. But the toilets must be left to the imagination of the reader."

The first marriage license in this county was issued by the first clerk, over forty years ago. We give the form of the license and certificate in full:

State of Illinois, Stark County, ss.—
I, Oliver Whitaker, Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of the County of Stark, do hereby authorize any regular minister of the Gospel, Judge or Justice of the Peace, to unite in marriage William Charles and Esther Stoddard; and the minister, Judge or Justice of the Peace who may unite the above named parties shall make a certificate of the same and return it to me within thirty days, as the law directs
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (there being no official seal provided) at Osceola, this 16th day of April, A. D. 1839
Oliver Whitaker, Clerk.

State of Illinois, Stark County
I hereby certify that, on the 18th day of April, A. D. 1889, 1 joined in the holy state of matrimony, Mr. William Charles and Miss Esther Stoddard, according to the usual custom and law of the State of Illinois. Given under my hand and seal this 18th day of April, A. D. 1839
Luther Driscoll,
Minister of the Gospel.

The record of marriage certificates entered in this county from this time to the close of 1866 is as follows: