I went to the Family History Library yesterday to do some research on the RANSON line but had this marriage license look-up in my RootsMagic to-do list. Since I was there, I thought I might as well pull up the microfilm.
William and Ada Rose, about 1905
William Taylor (b 1871) and Ada Rose Taylor (b. 1872) – yes they have the same last name, they are 1st cousins once removed – were married on 3 September 1890 in Logan, Utah Territory. Their marriage license was registered in Weber County since they were both from that county.
Weber County, Utah, “Marriage Licenses 1887-1946”: certificate no. 493, issued 30 Aug 1890, William Taylor and Ada Rose Taylor, certified 3 Sept 1890; FHL microfilm 1324660.
Transcript:
Marriage License.
The People of the Territory of Utah County of Weber
To any Person legally authorized to solemnize Marriage Greeting.
You are hereby Authorized to join in
Holy Matrimony
Mr. William Taylor of Harrisville
in the County of Weber and Territory of Utah
of the age of nineteen years and Miss Ada Rose Taylor
of Harrisville in the County of Weber and
Territory of Utah of the age of eighteen years the father
of said William Taylor having given his consent to said Marriage
Witness my hand as Clerk of the Probate Court and the seal of said Court
this 30th day of August, A.D. 1890
[signed] Daniel Hamer, Clerk of the Probate Court
By ____ Deputy.
Territory of Utah,
County of Cache
Thereby certify that on the Third day of September in the year of our Lord one
Thousand eight hundred and Ninety at Logan
in said County, the undersigned an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
did join in the Holy Bonds of Matrimony according to the laws of this Territory William Taylor
of the County of Weber Territory of Utah and Ada Rose Taylor
Of the County of Weber Territory of Utah.
[signed] William Taylor [signed] Ada Rose Taylor
In the Presence of [witnesses]
LC Farr
Jno Crowther
M.W. Merrill (Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Notes:
I can now add William and Ada’s signatures to my stash. I’m planning on making a signature family tree so this will help. I love seeing the handwriting of the people of researching!
I’m not sure what the marriage age restrictions were at the time and why William’s father had to give permission for the marriage. 19 and 18 years old is young, so that might be why…some additional research is needed on that.
According to FamilySearch they were sealed in the Logan LDS Temple on 3 Sept 1890 so I assume that is where they were married civilly as well (if it was like my sealing they just signed the certificate and then were sealed).
I’m prepping for a trip to the Family History Library tomorrow and was collecting all the information I already have about the Joseph & Vilate Ranson family and, more importantly, what I don’t have.
In these searches, I came across Joseph’s WWI Draft Registration Card. I love that it includes his signature! It’s amazing to consider that he signed this paper nearly 100 years ago! I also love the way they list his physical description…he could really be anyone, it’s not very specific!
Abstract:
Order Number: 139 Joseph Hyrum Ranson
Randolf, Rich, U[tah]
Age: 33
DOB: April 27, 1885
White, Native Born
Electrician – Utah & Wyo. Tel. Co.
Nearest Relative [Spouse]:
Vilate Elizabeth Ranson
Randolph, Rich U[tah]
Signed: Joseph Hyrum Ranson
Height: Medium
Build: Medium
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark Brown
Date of Registration: 9/12/1918
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images, Family Search (FamilySearch.org : downloaded 28 July 2014), Joseph Hyrum Ranson, draft registration; citing GS Film Number: 001983887, Digital Folder Number: 005243490, Image Number 03121.
I’m going back to researching in Utah right now because its so much easier! This time I’m looking at Troy’s maternal line, specifically the Joseph Hyrum Ranson and Vilate Elizabeth Corless family.
Joseph and Vilate, about 1915
Working my way backwards is the easiest way to do this and since their deaths are so recent (Joseph – 22 Feb 1975, and Vilate – 28 Dec 1963) censuses seemed like the best way to start. Here is the most recent available census, 1940:
1940 U.S. Census, Ogden City, Weber County, Utah, population schedule, Ogden City, Ogden Precinct, 4th Ward, enumeration district (ED) 29-53, SD 3, sheet 1B, household 14, lines 48-49, Joe Ranson Household; digital image, FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : downloaded 24 July 2014).
Abstract
1940 US Census
Utah, Weber County, Ogden City, Ogden Precinct, 4th Ward
SD 3, ED 29-53, Sheet 1B
28 April 1940
Lines 48-49. Gramercy St. [Ave.] 2765
Household 14, Owned, $3000 value, not a farm
Line 48. Ranson, Joe. Head, Male, White, 54, Married. Didn’t attend school this year, completed 8 years of schooling. POB: Utah. Living in 1935: same place. Employed, worked 40 a week, Electricitian, RR [railroad] Shops, private work, 52 weeks worked in 1939, $1781 income in 1939, no farm.
Line 49. —–, Vilate [x]. Wife, Female, White, 56, Married, Didn’t attend school this year, completed 0 years of schooling. POG: Utah. Living in 1935: same place. Household work.
Notes
At this point in their lives Joseph (Joe) and Vilate are living in Ogden and their children have all left home. It appears that Joseph was employed over the previous years (even though it was a depression) perhaps because he had a skill – electrician. Also, it was interesting to me that he had only an 8th grade education while his wife had completed 0 years of schooling. This is as reported by Vilate herself (with the x next to her name). Also, Joe earned $1781 in 1939. According to various online inflation calculators that is about $30,000 buying power today. Times sure were different! The address of 2765 Gramercy Ave. looks like this, today:
Last time I mentioned that I had found the index record that matched for George Freestone and Eliza Barnes marriage. I went ahead and ordered the certified copy of the original record.
Suffolk, marriage certificate (long form), George Freestone and Eliza Barnes, June 20, 1847; Suffolk County; General Register Office, London, England, UK. Wangford, vol. 13, page 769, entry 25.
Abstract:
George Freestone and Eliza Barnes were married in the Parish Church in the Parish of Bungay Trinity in the County of Suffolk on 20 June 1847. He is the 22 year old son of Isaac Freestone, and she is the 20 year old daughter of Joseph Barnes, both labourers. At the time of the marriage the bride and groom were both living in the Parish of Bungay Trinity, he working as a labourer and she as a servant.
This copy of the original marriage record gave me more information than I already had – that was the point of ordering it, right?!
I now have the specific marriage date – 20 June 1847.
I also have their ages at marriage which helps corroborate their birth dates. George’s age matches the birth date I already have for him of 6 Mar 1825. But, Eliza’s birth date of 18 Jul 1829 doesn’t match with her given age of 20. Those dates were inherited in the database and had no sources linked to them, so I will have to do more research to find the actual birth dates. This marriage certificate at least points me in the right direction.
The bride and groom as well as their witnesses were illiterate since they all used “x” and their mark.
It appears that Eliza’s relatives served as the witnesses. Perhaps the Joseph Barnes is her father (or maybe brother). I’m not sure about the Eleanor. Although, again from the inherited database, Eliza had a brother and sister by those names.
What now?
I need to investigate these families more fully. But, before I work backwards in time I need to be sure I find all the children of George and Eliza and also find their death records.
Why, its the study of the Lund's, of course! I am jumping in to researching our family history and seeing where it takes me. We are the Lund's. We come from Lund's, Ranson's, DeMacedo's, Lima's, Anderson's, Warner's, Ferreira's, Da Silva's and beyond! Since my own side of the family is from Brazil, it is quite difficult to track things down. Troy's side, on the other hand, has proven to be much easier. So, I'll be jumping back and forth and all around to learn about where we come from.
Are you related to us? I'd love to learn more about you and share what I know about our common ancestors!
