Treasure Chest Thursday~Untangling the Clues to the Marriage of Caroline Purvis

Caroline Purvis was born about 1823 in Clarke County, Alabama. She was the daughter of Joseph Purvis and Elizabeth Cook. By 1824, her parents had moved from Clarke County, Alabama to Rankin County, Mississippi. There she met a young man and was married on 27 February 1845. Sadly, her father died prior to May 1842 and did not live to see her marry this young man.
Online documents show that she married Thomas I. Allen on 25 Feb. 1845.

Caroline’s tombstone and Census records show her husband to be the Rev. Thomas J. (T. J.) Franklin.

So, who did Caroline Purvis marry? Was her husband Thomas J. Franklin or was he Thomas I. Allen. For years I have wished for a copy of the original marriage license to lay this issue to rest. In an effort to clarify this issue I have included the marriage licensee for Caroline Purvis. The marriage licensee identifies her husband as both Thomas J. Franklin and Thomas J. Allen. After reviewing the marriage license there is no doubt that Thomas J. Franklin and Thomas J. Allen are one and the same person. Thus Thomas J. Franklin has been identified as AKA Thomas J. Allen.
 

232

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI}
Rankin County.}
Know all Men by these presents, THAT WE,

Thomas J. Allen and Alexander Purvis

                    of the county of Rankin are held and firmly bound unto A. G. Brown   Governor of this State of Mississippi, aforesaid, and his successors in office, in the sum of two hundred dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made to the said Governor, for the time being, or his successors in office, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, each and every of us and them, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
Sealed with our seal and dated this twenty-fourth day of February one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. 
The Condition of this Obligation is such, That whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be celebrated between the above bound

Thomas J. Allen and Caroline Purvis

Now, if there is no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
            
                                                                     Thomas J. Allen [L.S.]
                                                                    Alex r his mark Purvis [L.S.]

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THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
RANKIN COUNTY
TO ANY JUDGE, MINISTER, OR JUSTICE, LAWFULLY AUTHORIZE TO CELEBRATE

THE RITES OF MATRIMONY.

YOU ARE HEREBY LICENSED to celebrate the RITES OF MATRIMONY between

Thomas J. Allen and Caroline Purvis

And for so doing, this shall be your warrant.
                              Given under my hand and seal of Office, this Twenty-fourth day
                                                                     of February in the year of our Lord
                                                               One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.
                                                                                          Jo Bennett  Clerk

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In virtue of a License from the Clerk of the Court of said County, I have this day celebrated the Rites of Matrimony between

Thomas J. Franklin and Caroline Purvis

Given under my hand this 27th day of February 1845
                                                                 John N. Campbell, J. P.





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[1]  Thomas J Allen/Franklin and Caroline Purvis 27 Feb 1845 Rec Bk 2 pg 232, Image 205
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-CHG?i=204
[2] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 December 2014); Memorial page for Carolina Purvis Franklin; (1823–1874); Find a Grave memorial # 49777084, Citing Antioch Cemetery; Rufus, Rankin County, Mississippi, USA. 
[3] 1850, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, Page: 334A (stamped); Line 36, Dwelling 113, Family 113, Household of Thomas FRANKLIN; digital images, Ancestry.com(http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 June 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: M432_381. 
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, No Twp Listed, Smith County, Mississippi, Page: 326 (penciled); Line 15, Dwelling 598, Family 598, Household of T. J. FRANKLIN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed `10 June 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: M653_591. 
[5] 1870 U. S. Census, Rankin County, Mississippi, population schedule, Brandon PO, Rankin County, Mississippi, Page: 65 (stamped), Line 37, Dwelling 476, Family 476, Household of Thomas J. FRANKLIN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 10 June 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M593 Roll 748. 
[6] 1840 US Census, Rankin County, Mississippi, population schedule, Rankin County, Mississippi, page 183, Household of Joseph Purvis; digital images, www.ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2009); citing NARA micro-film Roll: M704_217. 
[7] http://genforum.genealogy.com/ms/messages/7569.html 
[8] http://goo.gl/DvpHkb
[9]http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ffru/Docs/FFRU_back/charter.pdf