Marriage: Lawrence Spence to Jessie Pennisten

From my research at the Madison County, Indiana clerk's office, I was able to obtain a copy of the marriage license application for my maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Jessie PENNISTEN and her husband, Lawrence SPENCE. Both were spinsters - he was 55 and she was 50 when they were married - first marriages for both. Lawrence had been a career military man.

APPLICATION IS HEREBY MADE FOR A LICENSE FOR THE MARRIAGE OF Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston upon the following statement of facts relative to said parties:

MALE
1. The full christian and surname of the man is Lawrence Spence
2. Color White
3. Where born Monroe Twp., Mad. Co.
4. When born Jan 18 - 65
5. Present residence Anderson, Ind.
6. Present occupation Retired soldier
8. Is the male contracting party of nearer blood kin to the female contracting party than second cousin? No
9. Full christian and surname of father Thomas Spence
10. His color White
11. His birthplace Deleware [sic]
12. His occupation Deceased
13. His residence Deceased
14. Full christian and surname of mother Susan Berry
15. Her color White
16. Her occupation Deceased
17. Her birthplace Don't know
18. Her residence Deceased
19. Has the male contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
21. Is this his first marriage? Yes
26. Is the male contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious and transmissible disease? No
27. Is he an imbecile, feeble minded, idiotic or insane, or is he under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of application Lawrence Spence

State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Lawrence Spence deposes and says that he has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that they and each of them are true.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept. 1920.
Geo. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court

FEMALE
1. The full christian and surname of the woman is Jessie Penniston
2. Color White
3. Where born Anderson, Mad. Co.
4. When born Sep. 9 - 70.
5. Present residence Alexandria Ind.
6. Present occupation House Keeper
7. Full christian and surname of father John Penniston
8. His color White
9. His birthplace Indiana
10. His occupation Deceased
11. His residence Deceased
12. Full christian and maiden name of mother Jane Ann Alderman
13. Her color White
14. Her occupation Deceased
15. Her birthplace Mad. Co.
16. Her residence Deceased
17. Has the female contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years? No
18. Is this her first marriage? Yes
22. Is the female contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal, or any other contagious or transmissible disease? No
23. Is she an imbecile, feeble-minded, idiotic or insane, or is she under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No
Signature of applicant Jesie Pennisten

State of Indiana, Madison County, SS:
Jessie Penniston depose and says that she has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that each of them are true.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24 day of Sept 1920
Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk Madison Circuit Court

Lawrence Spence to Jessie Penniston;
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, the following Marriage License was issued, to wit:

INDIANA, TO WIT: MADISON COUNTY, SS:
To Any Person Empowered By Law To Solemnize Marriages In The County Of Madison, Greeting:
You are hereby authorized to join together as HUSBAND AND WIFE, Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston and of your Certificate of Marriage make the return withing three months, according to the laws of the State of Indiana.
Witness, Geo. W. Winfrey Clerk of our Madison Circuit Court, and the seal thereof, affixed at the Clerk's office in Anderson, this 24 day of Sept 1920.

Geo. W. Winfrey, Clerk of Madison Circuit Court

And afterwards, to wit: On the 24 day of Sept 1920, the following Certificate of Marriage was returned to the Clerk's office, to wit:
Geo W. Winfrey, hereby certify that on the 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920, duly joined in marriage Lawrence Spence and Jessie Penniston by authority of law and of license from the Clerk of Madison Circuit Court.

Given under my hand, this 24 day of Sept A.D. 1920.
Geo. W. Winfrey.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Most Unusual Ancestral Name

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has given us another Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge: What is the most unique, strangest or funniest combination of a given name and last name in your ancestry?

I didn't have to search too long to find my paternal 5th-great grandmother : AVIS HURLBUT. Avis is an ancestor that I don't know much about, but I'm thankful that a little bit of her is in my genes.

Avis was born November 11, 1762 in Woodbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Israel and Jerusha (________) HURLBUT. Avis was the oldest of four known children of Israel & Jerusha.

Avis was married on July 24, 1781 in Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont to John MOULTON. John was born December 27, 1755 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, the son of Samuel and Phoebe (________) MOULTON.

Avis and John had 14 children! My ancestor, Selah MOULTON, was the seventh child.

I do not know when and where Avis died, although it was probably in Vermont. I have much to learn about Avis and the rest of the HURLBUT family.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt # 42

Prompt: Campaign for the politicians in your family tree. If you don’t have one, research the political leaders in your ancestors’ city, county, or state and share the information.

There have been a few politicians in my family tree. My dad ran and served for several years on the school board of the Alexandria-Monroe Community Schools. I was already out of high school before he was elected, but my brother and sister were still in school when he served. I remember checking on the returns from college and being proud when I found out that he had won.

Another politician in the family that I can remember hearing about was my maternal great-aunt, Martha LAMBERTSON, who served as the Madison County Indiana Recorder. She served during the 1980s, I believe, but I'm not sure.

Thomas KING (1817-1864), a maternal 3rd-great granduncle, served in the Indiana Legislature during the 1850s from Madison County.

I'm sure that there have been more politicians that I've forgotten about in my family. This blog prompt has reminded me of another area of research to examine.