(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION RECONSTRUCTION) Marriage License and

Sale 2308 - Lot 131

Price Realized: $ 510

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750

(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--RECONSTRUCTION.) Marriage License and Certificate for Andrew Jackson and Julia Marlow. 8 x 10 engraved certificate with elaborate borders; crease where folded. Louisville, 1872

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A scarce example of a Reconstruction period combination marriage license and marriage certificate. .Formal marriage ceremonies under slavery were generally reserved for house-servants only. The master might have a white minister or a black plantation preacher perform a ceremony. But for many, the rite of marriage was simply a question of mutual agreement and more often than not involved children. The official licenses of Reconstruction were extremely important in restoring basic human rights to tens of thousands of couple who had been living together as man and wife under the 'peculiar institution' of slavery. Without a legal document, the legitimacy of the children of ex-slaves as well as the right of inheritance was difficult, if not impossible to prove.