Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1898 — An Interesting Old Document. [ARTICLE]

An Interesting Old Document.

Monroe Banes has just become possessed of a document which he values very highly, both as a keepsake and a curiosity. It is his grandparents’ marriage certificate. It is on a large sheet of genuine parchment, all in hand-writing, and it tells how, on Dec 14, 1803, William Banes married Hannah Trego, at a Quaker meeting, in Bucks county, Penn. After the deliberate manner of the Quakers, the intention of the couple to'get married had been publicly announced at several successive monthly meetings; and no one having raised any objections, the marriage was consumated, on the above date, after the Quaker manner. Namely the parties clasped hands and the groom promised to be a true and faithful husband until death did them part. If the bride promised anything the certificate forgot to mention it. The main body of the certificate is in beautiful handwriting, and is as clear and legible as the day it was written. Below the certificate are

the names of 30 or 40 witnesses, probably all the members of the meeting present at the wedding. Nearly all of these signatures are ; also in excellent handwriting. Besides this certificate, Mr. Banes has also become the owner of many old family letters, some of them written and sent through the postqffice long before envelopes ;• or postage stamps were invented.