William Wadlow and Mary Womack

William Wadlow married Mary Womack on 15 Apr 1768 in Goochland County, Virginia.  They were married by the Rev William Douglass, who recorded the marriage in his register, published as the Douglass Register.  Rev Douglass noted both bridge and groom were of 'this parrish', meaning  St. James Northam Parish in Goochland County, Virginia.

Six days prior, William Wadlow secured a marriage bond, as well as letter from Rev Douglass attesting to the age of the bride and groom.

Goochland County, Virginia Marriage Bonds

LDS Film # 007736797, image 80/425.

4 images of loose papers.  The top left and bottom left images are for the marriage of William Wadlow to Mary Womack.  The reverse sides of the images were not filmed.

Top left image.  Letter from Rev William Douglass about the ages of bride and groom.  Difficult to read in places due to paper folds, missing bits of paper, and blotchiness in the right side of the image.  Family Search has tools to adjust the contrast and brightness of the image, which helps in reading some of the words.  The original may be much more readable if photographed with a modern color high-resolution camera.

Goochland Apr: 9 1768

Sir

The Bearer Will: Wadley Wants [illegible] you[?] for a license in order 

To[?] Marriage with Mary Womack: The [illegible] 

has abundance of age, a great many more than enough [illegible]

as to the Bride, she was of full [?] age when Joyned[?] her to one named 

Williams above 16 years agoe.  But if all that is not Sufficient, I shall 

oblige my Self in 50 £ that both are of age many years agoe, the 

youngest being above 30 years old.  I am D [short for ‘Dear’] Sir

Yours to command

Will: Douglass x

Teste

Mer:th Price [Meredith Price]

John Laprade

April the 9th 1768

Then came John Laprade before me & made Oath that the Person 

above Mentd [Mentioned] Mary Wommack is above the Age of Twenty 

One years, heretofore under my hand:

Jesse Payne

Bottom Left image.  Missing some pieces, but overall easier to read.

Know all men by these presents that We William Wodlow 

& John Laprade ----- of the County of Goochland are her[eby?]

firmly Bound unto our Sovereign Lord the King George [missing] 

by the Grace of God, of Great Britain France and Ireland 

Defender of the Faith & c in the sum of Fifty Pounds currt 

Money of Virginia in which payment to [illegible]

Sovereign Lord the King his heirs and Successors.  We [bind?] 

our selves and every of Us, our and every of our Heirs, Executors 

& Administrators, jointly and Severally, firmly by these pres=

sents.  Witness our hands and Seals this Ninth day of 

April Annoque Domini MDCCLXVIII [1768].

The Condition of the above Obligation is such that if there be not 

any lawful causes to obstruct marriage [illegible]

Solemnized between the above Bound William Wodlow and --

Mary Wamack -- Then this Obligation to be void Else in full 

Force.

William Wodlow

John Laprade

Signed Sealed and Delivered

In presence of 

Val Wood

The letter from Rev William Douglass is very interesting.  It indicates both bride and groom were well over full age, meaning 21.  This meant they could marry without the consent of a parent or guardian.  

Douglass seems to be saying that William Wadlow is many years above 21, and that Mary Womack was over 21 when "Joyned" (married) to a Mr. Williams over 16 years prior.  That would make Mary at least 37.  Douglass goes on to say that both bridge and groom are over 30.

A free person of either gender over 14 could witness a document such as a deed or will.  See http://www.planetmurphy.org/pagebuild.php?pagebody1=WadlowThomas.htm

A William Wadlow witnessed a deed in Goochland Co, VA in May 1739, implying he was born 1725 or earlier, and was this 43 or older when he married Mary Womack, assuming this was the same William.

William Wadlow was counted as a tithe in the Goochland household of his father Thomas Wadlow in 1746.  A tithe sometimes meant 21 years of age, and sometimes 16, meaning William was born 1733 or earlier.

From Rev Douglass's letter, Mary Womack appears to be the widow of two husbands, a Mr. Williams she married 1752 or earlier, and after his death, a Mr. Womack.  It is highly doubtful she married William Wadlow under her maiden name.  Thus, Mary's maiden name is unknown.

William & Mary Wadlow moved to Pittsylvania Co, VA.  There, a Richard Womack was listed near Mary Wadlow in tax lists.  Was there a connection?  Was Mary possibly Richard's mother?

More in the next post.