Tombstone Tuesday: George Elmer and Margaret Harriman Veale

One of the great things about writing this blog is that I've come in contact with cousins I never knew I had! One such cousin, Leah, found me a few months ago and wrote to tell me that she thought we were related. Not only are we cousins, but she'd already met some of my known (and loved) cousins in Kansas and was looking to reunite with them. I was happy to help her make that connection, and have reaped many rewards in return!

Leah and I both hail from the Veale and Harriman/Harryman side of my family. My maternal GG grandfather, George Elmer Veale, married Margaret Harriman. George's sister, Clara Veale, married one of Margaret's cousins, William Bowles Harriman. Both George and Clara Veale were children of my 3rd great grandparents, Andrew Jackson Veale and Elizabeth Miller Veale, who migrated from Daviess County, Indiana, to Wabaunsee County, Kansas, in the late 1800s.

Earlier this year, Leah got together with our cousins Wanda and Debbie, and drove out to the Old Stone Church in Maple Hill, Kansas, where several of our relatives are buried. Leah sent me pictures from their escapade, including this photo of George and Margaret's grave, as well as some of the church and grounds. 

Old Stone Church, Maple Hill, Kansas

Leah also sent me some more old photos of the Veales and Harrimans, including this wonderful photo of my GG grandmother, Margaret Harriman Veale. She looks feisty, doesn't she!

Margaret Harriman Veale - 1850-1932

You know, I initially started writing this blog as a way to get my thoughts and family stories out of my head and into print so that I could better share them with the relatives I already know. I had no idea how many new cousins would start popping into my life to say hello and help me flesh out our larger family history. I'm having so much fun getting to know Leah! We're putting our heads together to prove a relationship in our Veale line that will help Leah join Daughters of the American Revolution (and give me a supplemental patriot on my mom's side of the family). She's a tenacious researcher, and I think we're learning from each other as we tear down some bricks in our wall. I'm so tickled that she found me, and I look forward to meeting her in person and continuing our new friendship!

Leah (2nd from left) with her brother, George, and our cousins, Debbie and Wanda

 Here's how I'm related to George Elmer Veale and Margaret A. Harriman:

George Elmer Veale (1850-1928) m. Margaret A. Harriman (1850-1932) in 1872 >
Alice A. Veale (1872-1954) m. Joseph Bartram (1860-1930) in 1891 >
John Bartram (1911-1987) m. Donna Marie Madsen (1919-1966) in 1938 >
Rebecca Elizabeth Bartram (living) m. William Lee Brittain (1942-2003) in 1964 >
Me!

CORRECTION: I had mistakenly included the wrong picture of Leah, George, Debbie and Wanda. The photo, above, is the correct photo (sorry, Leah!). 

Wedding Wednesday: Jacob Harryman & Catharine LaFavre - 1826

I love it when I get genealogy documents and information in the mail. It's like Christmas to me! Today, I was tickled when I reached into my mailbox to find an envelope from Morgan County, Indiana, containing the 1826 marriage record for my 3rd great grandparents, Jacob Harryman and Catharine Lafavre. Jacob was 25 years old at the time, and Catharine was a mere 18 years old.

Here's what it says:

Jacob Harriman to Catharine Lafavre: 

Be it Remembered, That on this 13th day of July A.D. 1826, the following Marriage License was issued, to wit:

State of Indiana, Morgan County, (???)
To any person empowered by law to solemnize marriage, Greeting:

You are hereby authorized to join together as Husband and Wife Jacob Harryman and
Catharine Lafavre, and of this, together with your Certificate of Marriage, make
due return, within three months, according to the laws of the State of Indiana.

Witness: Geo H. Beeler, clerk of our said Morgan
Circuit Court, and the Seal thereof, affixed at the Clerk's
Office in Martinsville, Indiana, this 13th day of July 1826

Geo. H. Beeler
Clerk of Morgan Circuit Court

Be it further Remembered that on this _____ day of ______A.D. 18__ The
following certificate was filed in my office, to wit:

State of Indiana, Morgan County, (???)
I, _______________, hereby certify that on the _____ day of A.D.
18__, I duly joined in marriage ____________ and _____________
by authority of Law and a License from the Clerk of the Morgan Circuit Court.
Given under my hand this ____ day of ______ 18__.

(It was also noted, in handwriting, that the couple was "of age.")

The clerk at the Morgan County courthouse was really nice and helpful when I ordered the document (as most clerks seem to be, especially in Midwest). She gave me a heads-up that, while Jacob and Catharine made the trip to get the marriage license at courthouse on July 13, 1826, they didn't bother to go back and have the marriage certified (hence, the empty part of the record on the bottom...). Of course, I immediately wondered if that meant they were never actually married. However, the clerk informed me that, apparently, this sort of thing wasn't entirely uncommon back in the early 1800s: it's possible that they couldn't afford to make the 80-mile trip back to the county seat (either in time and/or funds), or they just didn't realize that they were supposed to do that after they actually got hitched. Or, maybe they just couldn't be pained with the details!

Didn't seem to bother them much: they still raised nine kids (including my great great grandmother, Margaret) and lived a long life together. They were each 69 years old when he passed away in Indiana, Jacob on February 1, 1871, and Catharine six years and a day later, on February 2, 1877. 

Here's how I'm related to Jacob & Catharine: Me > Rebecca Elizabeth Bartram (mom) > John Bartram (grandpa) > Alice A. Veale > Margaret Harriman > Jacob and Catharine Harryman. I'm told the Harryman/Harriman name change happened due to a misspelling on one of the census documents, and it just stuck for that side of the family.