This week's project for transcribing on Amanuensis Monday is the marriage record for Martin L. Meyers (1899-1979) and Geneva Emerson (1903-2009). I have been working on a side project that includes members of the Emerson family and today I happened across this document. Geneva Emerson (1903-2009) was my late cousin Ed Ostrom's maternal aunt. Geneva and Ed's mother, Alice Emerson Ostrom were sisters. I thought today's was a serendipitous discovery and as such, I should share it with you.
This document is a fill-in-the-blanks form that was completed in 1924 in Chehalis, Lewis County, Washington. The hand-written information that was added, I'll place in bold, italicized, red font. Comments made by me will be surrounded by square brackets [ ].
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| IMAGE: Marriage Record issued to Martin L. Meyers and Geneva Emerson for their 29 April 1924 marriage. [1] |
-------- transcription begins --------
This blank to be filled in by the Minister, Priest, or official performing the Marriage Ceremony and returned to the County Auditor of the County in which the marriage took place, within five days from the date of marriage.
MARRIAGE RETURN
1—Date of License April 29—1924
2—Full Name of Groom: Martin L Meyers
3—Age Last Birthday 24 yrs
4—Color (a) White
5—No. of Groom's Marriages 2nd
6—Residence Seattle Wash
7—Birthplace (b) Lenworth Kan [sic]
8—Occupation ???
9—Father's Name: Anton Meyers
10—Mother's Maiden Name: Louse Meyers [sic]
11—Full Name of Bride: Geneva Emerson
Maiden Name, if a Widow:
12—Age Last Birthday 21 yrs
13—Color (a) White
14—No. of Bride's Marriages one
15—Residence Seattle Wn
16—Birthplace (b) — Minnesota
17—Occupation Housewife
18—Father's Name: Ray Emerson [sic]
19—Mother's Maiden Name: Dore Emerson [sic]
20—Date of Marriage April 29—1924
21—Place of Marriage Chehalis Wn
22—By Whom Married, and Official Station:
P.C. Beaufort
Justice of the Peace
23—Names of Witnesses and Their Residences:
No. 1 F.B. VanVleet
Chehalis Wn
No. 2 Minnie Packard
Chehalis Wn
NOTE—(a)—State color distinctly, so race may be known, as White,
Black, Mulatto, Indian, Chinese, Mixed, White and
Indian, etc.
(b)—Give State of Foreign Country, so nationality is
plainly shown.
[Rubber-stamped]
RECEIVED
APR
30
1924
LEWIS AUDITOR
CHRONICLE PRINT, CENTRALIA
-------- transcription ends --------
Source:
1.) "Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : accessed 03 September 2017), Image hosted by FamilySearch, Martin L. Meyers and Geneva Emerson, 29 April 1924; State Archives, Olympia; FHL microfilm 4,135,594.
I have been wondering why the trip to Chehalis. In today's terms, this is about a 90-minute freeway drive south of Seattle where the bride and groom lived. In 1924 there was no fast highway, but a two-lane road the trip would have taken much longer. It appears that the witnesses resided in Chehalis and their connection to Martin and Geneva is another question. I have come to the notion that perhaps there was a special venue for marriages where folks would gather, much like a Gretna Green. Fun to think about, but it is possible that we'll never solve that question.
I noticed the following in this document is in error:
a. The groom Martin was born in Leavenworth, Kansas.
b. Martin's occupation could not be read
c. Martin's mother's maiden name was Annie Louisa Heinbuch
d. The bride's father's name was Reinert Emerson
e. The bride's mother's maiden name was Dora Elise Nilson
In my opinion this had a high incidence of errors on important points get across. Reminds me that when on the hunt for family records to be mindful that errors can be unintentionally made. This is why multiple records of the individual's life events are located for cross-checking purposes.
Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.
Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down; to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.
I hope that your week has had a good start. Thank you for stopping by today and letting me share this document with you.
The URL for this post is: https://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2017/09/amanuensis-monday-marriage-record-for.html.
Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you.
Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down; to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.
I hope that your week has had a good start. Thank you for stopping by today and letting me share this document with you.
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Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens
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