This is a photograph of the original Quaker marriage certificate indicating
that Asher Brown and Mary Ward (my 4th great-grandparents) were joined
in marriage "at Haddonfield in the County of Gloucester in New Jersey"
... "this nineteenth Day of the twelfth Month in the Year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and eighty three". (A transcription follows
the picture.)
Whereas Asher Brown Son of Samuel Brown dec’d. and Mary Ward,
Daughter of George Ward dec’d having Declared their Intention of Marriage
with each
other before Several Monthly Meetings of Friends at Haddonfield in
the County of
Gloucester in New Jersey, and having Consent of Relations and Persons
concern’d,
According to the good Order used amongst these, their Proposal was
allowed of by
Said Meeting.
Now these are to certify whom it may concern, That for the full accomplishing
Their said Intention this nineteenth Day of the twelfth Month in the
Year of our Lord
One thousand seven hundred and eighty three, They the said Asher Brown
and
Mary Ward appeared in a public Meeting of the said People at their
Meeting House
In Woodbury in the County aforesaid, And the said Asher Brown taking
the said
Mary Ward by the Hand, did in a Solemn Manner openly declare, that
he took her the
Said Mary Ward to be his Wife, Promising thro’ divine Assistance to
be unto her a loving
And faithful Husband until Death should separate them. And then
and there
In the said Assembly, the said Mary Ward did in like manner declare,
that she took
The said Asher Brown to be her Husband, Promising, thro’ divine Assistance,
to be
Unto him a loving and faithful Wife until Death should separate them.
And moreover, they the said Asher Brown and Mayr (She, according to
the
Custom of Marriage assuming the Name of her Husband) did then and there
to these
Presents set their Hands.
And we being present at the Solemnization of their said
Marriage & Subscription afores. Do as Witnesses thereunto Sub
Scribe our Names the Day and Year above written.