This is a copy of the original marriage license and certificate located at the Mercer County Clerk’s office – another of those brittle pieces of paper! Note the five cent stamp in the lower left-hand corner – did Mr. Daniel Young mail this to the clerk’s office?
I also bring to your attention the name of the county clerk – Ben C. Allin. If you remember from earlier writings the very first county clerk for Mercer was Thomas Allin, who died during the cholera epidemic of 1833. After his death Thomas’ son Philip Trapnell Allin became clerk, and after his death, Philip’s younger brother, Ben, became county clerk. Such a family tradition!
Marriage License
The Commonwealth of Kentucky
To any Minister of the Gospel, or other Person legally authorized to solemnize Matrimony.
You are permitted to solemnize the Rites of Matrimony between John M. Wilson and Jane B. Gill the requirements of the law having been complied with. Witness my signature as Clerk of Mercer County Court, this 17th day of December 1866 – Ben C. Allin, Clerk.
Marriage Certificate
This is to Certify, That on the 19th day of December, 1866, the Rites of Marriage were legally solemnized by me, between John M. Wilson and Jane B. Gill in the County of Mercer in the presence of B. Wilson and Lambert Brewer. Signed: Daniel P. Young.
Categories: Marriage Records
Could the stamp have been a tax or fee? Up until the 1960s, stamps had to be affixed to deeds before they could be recorded. We had to go to the post office to purchase them and the required amount was $1.10 per thousand on the purchase price.
This is indeed very possible! This was the first time I had seen a stamp on a marriage license/certificate! When a marriage bond is written, there is a penalty of 50 pounds – current money, depending on the year written! – if the marriage is not solemnized. Perhaps that 5 cents was connected with the bond? I think I need to do more research!