Marriage Bond
Marriage bonds were taken out a day to several days prior to the marriage. While no money was actually paid, they served as a guarantee for the marriage. The security person listed was often a relative of either the groom or the bride. In the case of L. D. Graham's bond, W. J. P. Byrd served as security. From, the 1880 Census we learn that W. P. Beird was Victoria Pickren's brother.
How nice it is to also have both of these men's signatures.
Transcription
State of Louisiana,
Parish of Rapides
Parish of Rapides
Know all Men by these Presents, That we L. D. Graham, as
principal, and W. J. P. Byrd as security, are held and firm bound unto the
Governor of the State of Louisiana, in the sum of Five hundred ($500) Dollars,
for the payment of which we and ourselves, our heirs, executors and
administrators, jointly and severally by [missing letters] ese presents.
Dated at Alexandria, the 3 day of May A. D. 1870 Whereas, a
license has been this day issued by the Clerk of the District court in and for
the Parish of Rapides, to unite in the Bond of Matrimony, the []ove bound, Mr.
L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren. Now
therefore, the condition of the above obligation is such, that if there should
exist no legal impediment to this alliance, then the said obligation to be null
and void, else to remain in full force and virtue.
[...]ned in the presence of
Charles Owen L.
D. Graham
W.
J. P. Byrd
Marriage License
Transcription
State of Louisiana
Parish of Rapides
To any Justice of the Peace or Minister of the Gospel, who
is authorized to celebrate Marriages in and for the Parish of Rapides….
Greeting:
You are Hereby licensed and permitted to unite in the BOND
OF MATRIMONY, according to the law and Established Rules Mr. L. D. Graham and
Miss A. V. Pickren, Given under my hand ant the Seal of Office as Clerk of the
District Court, in and for the Parish of Rapides, the 3 day of May 1870.
[signed] Charles Owen dep Clerk
Minister's Return
From this document we learn that L. D. Graham and A. V. Pickren were married on 5 May, 1870 at the home of H.C.C. Teagle, rather than at the home of R. Graham, as were many of her sisters.
One of the witnesses Silas C. Scarborough, was probably A. V. Pickren's step-father. We know that the newlyweds were living next door (or at least close by) to Silas Scarborough and Mary D. Scarborough from the 1870 census. We also know that A. V. Pickren's mother M. D. Scarborough (widow) and her brother John E. Scarborough were living with L. D. and Aaron V. Graham in Milam Co., Texas in 1880 (census).
It would be interesting to know who Napoleon B. White (witness), H. C. C. Teagle (residence of marriage ceremony) and J. F. Marshall, Minster were. Almost all the other Graham children were married by one of the Willis ministers, and they were married at the home of R. Graham. This marriage certainly broke with family tradition.
Another interesting break with Graham marriage tradition was A. V. Pickren's age at the time of marriage. She was only 14. All the Graham daughters were at least 18 and most were in the 20-22 age range at the time of their marriages. And, both sons were over age 20 when they married. L. D. Graham's only brother William Jackson Graham also married a woman over the age of 20. So, A. V. Pickren's tender age of 14 years and 4 months was extremely young by Graham family tradition.
I also have doubts about A. V. Pickren's signature on the marriage record. Her signature style strongly resembles the signature of L. D. Graham.
Transcription
State of Louisiana
Parish of Rapides
Be it Remembered that on the 5th day of May 1970,
Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren personally appeared before me J. F.
Marshall in and for the Parish of Rapides, together with the witnesses whose
names are subscribed hereto. All witnesses of full age, and resident in the
said Parish, and that then and there the said Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V.
Pickren {…}oving produced the license required by Law, signified their desire
and intention, before us the said Marshall and witnesses to be united in the
State of Matrimony: L. D. Graham, and Miss A. V. Pickren were by the said J. F.
Marshall in the presence of said witnesses, Joined in Wedlock according to the
Laws of the State of Louisiana, and by me the said J. F. Marshall duly pronounced
to be Husband and Wife.
In Testimony Whereof, the parties to the said Marriage hereunto
affix their signatures, together with me the said J. F. Marshall and the
aforesaid witnesses on this 5th day of May A.D., 1870 at residence
of H. C. C. Teagle in the Parish aforesaid.
Witnesses: [signatures]
S. C. Scarborough L.
D. Graham
[illegible] A.
V. Pickren
Napoleon B. White J.
F Marshall, Minister of the Gospel The 3 combined documents provide additional clues to be researched in the future. And, while almost all marriage indexes show the date of 3 May 1870 as the marriage date for this couple, having all the marriage documents shows that while the marriage bond and license were acquired on 3 May 1870, the marriage didn't occur for another 2 days -- on 5 May 1870
