Ancestry has made some mistakes. And not the usual transcription mistakes. Mistakes that caused me to go out of my way, only to be disappointed.
I received the marriage announcements for Mary Ann Wood to Patrick Henry Mullins and Virginia Wood to David Hill Mullins. They weren’t what I expected at all. What I was hoping for was to find out where in South Carolina the couples had married in hopes of linking my McQueens to a specific county. Ann McQueen, the mother of Mary Ann and Virginia, is the sister of my 4th great-grandfather Peter McQueen. I only know that they were born in South Carolina in the 1790s. When I saw that Ancestry had Mary Ann and Virginia’s marriages listed under “South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965” I really thought I had gotten one step closer.
What follows are screen shots of the records Ancestry offers, compared to the actual marriage announcements found in the Southern Christian Advocate, a South Carolina Methodist periodical.
On the 7th inst., in Merriwether co., Ga., by Rev. W. D. Matthews, David H. Mullins of Va., to Miss Virginia, youngest daughter of Stephen Wood, Esq.
Now, Meriwether County, Georgia IS NOT in the state of South Carolina. Also, I did a little research to find out exactly what the “inst.” was, and what I found is that “inst.” means “instant” and refers to a date in the same month, whereas “ult.” means “ultimo” and refers to a date in the month prior. So this would put the date of marriage at June 7, 1853 rather than May. Though if I am wrong on this I wish someone would enlighten me!
Near White Sulphur Springs, Merriwether co., Ga, March 30th, by Rev. W. D. Mathews, Col. Patrick Henry Mullins of Virginia, to Miss Mary, eldest daughter of Stephen Wood, Esq., of the former place.
Again, White Sulphur Springs, Meriwether County, Georgia IS NOT in the state of South Carolina.
I know this probably annoys me more than it should, but I keep thinking how I wouldn’t have sent off for the marriage announcements, I wouldn’t have paid for the marriage announcements, had the information of the place of marriage been correct on Ancestry to begin with (considering that I already pay for Ancestry itself to have the ability to find information). I’m pretty much back to, as my mother put it, square-one with my research.
Sigh.
On a happier note, I also received a copy of the marriage record for Elizabeth Freeland and Peter McQueen! Though it still leaves some questions, I feel a bit closer to finding out more about Elizabeth’s family. I know she had a brother named George W Freeland who died in Sumter County, Alabama. Until now that’s the only name I had for a family member. Lucky for me the marriage bond was signed between Peter McQueen and Isaac Freeland! Is Isaac her father? I do not know. BUT that’s a new name! In East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana there is an Isaac listed on the 1820 census, but I cannot find any other information about him, not even another census. So more research, but I will find something!State of Louisiana
Parish of Feliciana
Know all men by these presents that we Peter McQueen & I Freeland are held firmly bound unto Wm C Wade Judge of the Parish aforesaid & his successors & assigns in the full sum of five Hundred dollars lawfull money of the United States to which payment will & justly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs & signed by us this 27th day of November 1820
The Consideration of the foregoing obligation is such that whereas the said Peter McQueen has this day obtained from the Judge of the Parish aforesaid a license to Celebrate a marriage between him the said Peter McQueen & Elizabeth Freeland
Now if there exists no legal impediment to the Celebration of said marriage ~ then this obligation to be void Else to remain in full force & virtue
Peter McQueen
Isaac Freeland
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