Transcribed Record of the Wedding of Sarah Elizabeth Warner and Joseph Reece Whitacre

Transcribed and Donated by John and Gene Sharp

Transcribed Record of the Wedding of Sarah Elizabeth Warner and Joseph Reece Whitacre
dated 5 March 1862 from the records of the Muncy Meeting House

The following is a transcription from the Muncy Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) record book for the 5 March 1862 marriage of Joseph Reece Whitacre and Sarah Elizabeth Warner. The young couples wedding is wonderfully described in two letter written contemporaneously and posted at: http://www.genealogytrails.com/penn/lycoming/WhitacreWedding.html

In accord with Friends tradition and beliefs, the Muncy Meeting asked the assembled Friends as witnesses to sign their names to the couples wedding certificate. A small digital image of this original record is posted with the above letters.

The wedding of Joseph Reece Whitacre and Sarah (Sally) Elizabeth Warner was itself a meeting for worship, held after the manner of the Friends, within which the marriage takes place. The young couple as described in the letters entered the Muncy Meeting House and took their places at the front of the room. In giving themselves to each Joseph and Sarah followed Friends custom which eliminates the bride being given away by her father. Notably too no third person pronounces them man and wife because Friends believe that God alone can create such a union and give it significance. In an atmosphere of quiet and reverence during the period of worship, the couple rise. Taking each other by the hand, they make their promises, first the groom and then the bride, using the simple words found in the transcription. When Joseph and Sarah were seated again, the marriage certificate is brought for them to sign. Then someone who has previously been selected to do so read the couples certificate aloud. This is done with dignity and care in order to contribute to the atmosphere of worship. The meeting then continues in silent waiting upon God while those assembled share in the worship through prayer and meditation or through spoken messages.

Those present that March day were asked to sign the Whitacre's certificate as witnesses to their marriage a copy of the certificate was made for the records of the Muncy Monthly Meeting (From which this transcription was made). Joseph and Sarah Whitacre would have had the original certificate which they would have placed in their home.

The spelling and punctuation is that transcribed from the LDS microfilm of the Meeting Book record.

(Information on Friends Marriage from the web page of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Religious Society of Friends)

Gene and John Sharp

[Page] 136

Whereas Joseph R. Whitacre of Muncy Township Lycoming County in the State of Pennsylvania Son of Edward Whitacre of the Same Township County and State and Sarah R his wife and Sarah E. Warner daughter of John and Louisa Warner of Said township County and State having declared their intentions of Marriage with each other before a Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends according to the good order used among them and having the consent of their Parents their proposal of Marriage was allowed of by the Said Meeting now there are to certify to whom it concern that for the full accomplishment of the Said intentions this fifth day of the third Month of the year of our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred and Sixty two they the Said Joseph R. Whitacre and Sarah E. Warner appeared in a publick Meeting of the Said People held at their Meeting House in Muncy Township Lycoming County and the Said Joseph R. Whitacre taking the Said Sarah R. Whitacre by the hand did on this Solemn occasion firmly declare that he took the Said Sarah E. Warner to be his wife promising with divine assistance to be unto Her a loving and faithful husband until death Should Separate them and in the Same assembly the Said Sarah E. Warner did in like manner declare that She took Him the Said Joseph R. Whitacre to be her Husband promising with divine assistance to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until death Shall Separate them and Moreover the Said Joseph R. Whitacre and Sarah E. Warner she according to the custom of Marriage assuming the name of her Husband and did as further confirmation of ask these of them there present to set their hands

[Signed] Joseph R. Whitacre

[Signed] Sarah E. Warner

[Page] 137

and we whose names are present to subscribe being present at the Solemnization of Said Marriage and Subscription Leave as Witnesses of to set our hands the day and the year above written

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