More than a decade ago when I was starting my family history journey, I found the date and location of the marriage of my great grandparents, Frank and Katie (Saltonstall) Miars in multiple online index databases. At that time I really didn't know where or what to do with that information or how to go about getting the actual original records of this important event. So I just recorded the information in my software program where I keep my family tree and went on with research in other areas. (I did at least include in my family tree the source of that marriage information!)
As part of trying to figure out what happened to Katie's father, Thompson J Saltonstall, I realized that maybe her marriage record from 1893 would offer some clues. By this time I was well acquainted with the process for obtaining vital records in Tazewell County, Illinois where Katie and her husband Frank were married. But also I had seen where the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society had some original marriage records from this time period. So I sent them an email to see what they had. Very quickly I received the following Return of Marriage to County Clerk.
 |
| Return of Marriage for Frank Miars and Katie B Saltonstall (1) |
Great! This is what I was looking for - the license application that would provide personal and family details for the bride and groom. I read through the information provided for the groom and found everything to be as I had expected. His parents names, residence, occupation, and age all were in line with what I had previously uncovered about him. I then moved to the details about the bride and found an unexpected entry for, Katie's father.
The information I had about my great grandmother's father was that his name was "Thompson J" - not "Peter" as the marriage license stated. "Peter"?!?!?! Who was that? Where did this first name come from? I knew (or thought I knew) that "Thompson J" was Katie's father's name. I have family papers from her daughter (Mary E (Miars) Best) stating this. I have the marriage record of Katie's parent's which lists her father's name as "Thompson". I have census records for him that list his name as "Thompson". I also assumed that the details on Katie's marriage record would have come from her or the groom. Both of which should know the name of Katie's father. Why is his name now listed as "Peter"? Are they the same person?
At first I was irritated about this new information. I have uncovered a couple of Revolutionary War patriots and Mayflower passengers in Thomspon's line. I need a quality source though to identify Katie as the daughter of Thompson. This marriage record was supposed to be that link and now it isn't. Because Thompson disappears after 1875 and Katie was born in 1872 (2) they are never enumerated together in any census. I have yet to find any obituary for him or his mother (Isabella Paine Saltonstall McCoy) who likely outlived him as the newspapers from that time or place are not extant. I needed this marriage license for Katie to say some different than it did. I will write more about the search for "Peter Saltonstall" in a subsequent post.
The second document I have for my great grandparents comes from FamilySearch which has a number of collections digitized from Tazewell County, IL (why can't Peoria County do this?!?!?). A search in those online records found Frank and Katie's marriage recorded in the County's Marriage Register Book 2. One entry in the register crosses both facing pages. In the image below their record is identified with an arrow. It should be the same exact information as on the marriage return above and it is. Katie's father is listed as "Peter".
Related Blog Posts -
The information I had about my great grandmother's father was that his name was "Thompson J" - not "Peter" as the marriage license stated. "Peter"?!?!?! Who was that? Where did this first name come from? I knew (or thought I knew) that "Thompson J" was Katie's father's name. I have family papers from her daughter (Mary E (Miars) Best) stating this. I have the marriage record of Katie's parent's which lists her father's name as "Thompson". I have census records for him that list his name as "Thompson". I also assumed that the details on Katie's marriage record would have come from her or the groom. Both of which should know the name of Katie's father. Why is his name now listed as "Peter"? Are they the same person?
At first I was irritated about this new information. I have uncovered a couple of Revolutionary War patriots and Mayflower passengers in Thomspon's line. I need a quality source though to identify Katie as the daughter of Thompson. This marriage record was supposed to be that link and now it isn't. Because Thompson disappears after 1875 and Katie was born in 1872 (2) they are never enumerated together in any census. I have yet to find any obituary for him or his mother (Isabella Paine Saltonstall McCoy) who likely outlived him as the newspapers from that time or place are not extant. I needed this marriage license for Katie to say some different than it did. I will write more about the search for "Peter Saltonstall" in a subsequent post.
The second document I have for my great grandparents comes from FamilySearch which has a number of collections digitized from Tazewell County, IL (why can't Peoria County do this?!?!?). A search in those online records found Frank and Katie's marriage recorded in the County's Marriage Register Book 2. One entry in the register crosses both facing pages. In the image below their record is identified with an arrow. It should be the same exact information as on the marriage return above and it is. Katie's father is listed as "Peter".
 |
| Tazewell County, Illinois - Marriage Register for Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall (3) |
It is wonderful to have both of these images of records created by Tazewell County, IL upon the marriage of my great grandparents. But recently I was reviewing the papers left by Frank and Katie's daughter (my great aunt), Mary E (Miars) Best. I was trilled to find a booklet commemorating her parent's marriage.
 |
| Marriage Certificate booklet - Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall 7 Mar 1893 (4) |
 |
| Marriage Certificate booklet - Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall 7 Mar 1893 (4) |
 |
| Marriage Certificate booklet - Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall 7 Mar 1893 (4) |
 |
| Marriage Certificate booklet - Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall 7 Mar 1893 (4) |
It is absolutely beautiful and other than yellowed pages it is in good condition. The original string that ties the booklet together is still holding all the pages in good order. How about the handwriting! It is beautiful as well. The information included on the "This Certifies" page is consistent with the marriage return and register. I love it when this happens! My working hypothesis is that this was created by the entity that performed the ceremony. In this case the clergyman was "G. W. Ballenger".
Rev. Ballenger's full name is George Walter and I have seen his name many times as the officiant at other Miars/Hodgson/Dillon weddings in Tazewell County. He would have been well known to my great grandparents. Just a few years after he married this couple his wife died. He married for a second time to Frank's first cousin, Anna Robison (daughter of Frank and Mary Jane (Miars) Robison). I need to add G.W. Ballenger to my list of future blog posts because he has a rather tragic story about his upbringing that should be told.
I also need to add to my list of "to-dos" is to research the two witnesses. "Mr. John Whisler" is interesting to me as Katie's mother, Cathering (Ringenberger) Saltonstall Augsburg VanDyke has a sister who was married to a Whisler. I wonder if there is a family connection in the choice of this witness. Figuring out who the witnesses are and the relationship to the happy couple may also help identify the specific location of the marriage. That piece of information is really the only element of the story of this wedding that is not documented. More research is needed! No surprise there.
Once more I can thank everybody, from my great grandparents to my mom, for keeping this beautiful family artifact safe so it could be digitized and preserved for generations to come. It is wonderful to have multiple pieces of evidence for my Frank and Katie's marriage.
Related Blog Posts -
A Letter from "Uncle Roy" to Mary E (Miars) Best
Bramble School and the Miars Family of Jubilee Township
A Teacher's Contract - Mary (Miars) Best - 1843-1944
Mary Best Miars (1906-1986) - Happy 113th Birthday!
A Teacher's Teacher - Lulu (Petty) Eicher
20 Years Ago - The Passing of Robert T Miars
Robert Miars and Bessie Purcell - Breaking Down Barriers to Justice
Clara (Miars) Barker - 123rd Birthday - October 12, 1896
Bibliography -
(1) Tazewell County, Illinois, return of marriage license no. 4098 (7 Mar 1893), Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall; digital image, Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society sent to author on 13 Aug 2019.
(2) Peoria County, Illinois, death certificate no. 65008 (19 May 1955), Katie Saltonstall Miars, Peoria County Clerk. See also "Mrs. Miars of Brimfield Dead at 82," undated newspaper clipping, from unidentified newspaper; in the possession of the author.
(3) Tazewell County, Illinois, "Vital records, 1827-1922," database and images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 Aug 2019), FHL film no. 1314688, DGS no. 7616361, image 683 of 718, Frank Miars and Katie B. Saltonstall, 7 Mar 1893; Register of Marriages book 2, p. 73.
Bramble School and the Miars Family of Jubilee Township
A Teacher's Contract - Mary (Miars) Best - 1843-1944
Mary Best Miars (1906-1986) - Happy 113th Birthday!
A Teacher's Teacher - Lulu (Petty) Eicher
20 Years Ago - The Passing of Robert T Miars
Robert Miars and Bessie Purcell - Breaking Down Barriers to Justice
Clara (Miars) Barker - 123rd Birthday - October 12, 1896
Bibliography -
(1) Tazewell County, Illinois, return of marriage license no. 4098 (7 Mar 1893), Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall; digital image, Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society sent to author on 13 Aug 2019.
(2) Peoria County, Illinois, death certificate no. 65008 (19 May 1955), Katie Saltonstall Miars, Peoria County Clerk. See also "Mrs. Miars of Brimfield Dead at 82," undated newspaper clipping, from unidentified newspaper; in the possession of the author.
(3) Tazewell County, Illinois, "Vital records, 1827-1922," database and images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 13 Aug 2019), FHL film no. 1314688, DGS no. 7616361, image 683 of 718, Frank Miars and Katie B. Saltonstall, 7 Mar 1893; Register of Marriages book 2, p. 73.
(4) Frank Miars and Katie Saltonstall, marriage booklet, 7 Mar 1893, personal papers of Mary E. (Miars) Best; privately held by Diane Minor, Plano, Texas, 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment