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Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 2001-04 > 0986365171


From: "Bonnie Barnes" <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] civil ceremonies
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 14:21:31 +0800
References: <MABBJBGKGFKKKBGGCEMJAELKCCAA.jwh6@psu.edu> <v0421010eb6efb94e5914@[159.28.97.121]>


Hi Thomas,

I'm far from an authority on 'all things Quaker', but my ggg gf William
Wilson died at Springfield Township, Oakland County, MI and he was a very
strict Quaker according to information I have gathered. The funeral was
apparently held at his residence in Springfield. His death notice appeared
in the Oakland County Advertiser, Holly, Oakland County, Michigan on 14 Dec
1878. It reads:

Mr. Wm. Willson, one of the early settlers of the township of Springfield,
died at his residence on Saturday, Dec 7th, at the advanced age of 88 years.
Mr. Willson came to Michigan at quite an early day, and has lived upon the
farm where he died, for about 40 years, where he had by hard toil, energy
and perseverence succeeded in changing the rough wilds of the forest to a
delightful and comfortable home for himself and family. His wife still
survives him. They have reared a large family of children, consisting of 5
boys, and 4 girls, and have the satisfaction of living to see them all well
settled in life and all respected and useful members of society. His
funeral was attended at his late residence, on Monday, Dec. 9th.

Hope this is of interest to you. If anyone has any connection to my William
Wilson....I'd love to hear from you. Sometimes 1 'L' was used and sometimes
2 'L's', but he's still my WILSON.

Bonnie Menzer Barnes
Perth, Western Australia

----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Hamm <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 1:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Q-R] civil ceremonies


> >I wonder how frequently our Quaker ancestors did not wish to wait the
three
> >months or so for their marriage plans to clear the meeting and used a
civil
> >ceremony to speed up the process? An opportunity to move or change jobs
(or
> >an impending descendant?) often speeds up the marriage plans today - I
would
> >assume similar happenings with my fore-parents as well. Judy
>
> I've often wondered about this myself. In some cases, the marriages
> out of meting were probably elopements, designed to get around the
> requirement of parental approval. James Baldwin, in his
> autobiographical novel about Hamilton County, Indiana, before the
> Civil War, "In My Youth," hints that at least some young Friends were
> basically bashful about appearing before the monthly meeting and
> saying their vows in front of a whole meeting for worship. Before
> 1900, most Protestant marriages, even if conducted by a minister,
> didn't take place in church, but rather at a private residence.
>
> Actually, going through meeting didn't take much over a month. For
> example, the couple declares its intentions in 4th Mo. The requisite
> committees are appointed, and, if they find no obstruction, leaves
> the couple free to proceed in 5th Mo. They then could marry at the
> next midweek meeting for worship if they wished it.
>
> T Hamm
>
>
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