Genealogy Chat

Can anyone tell me what this means . Does it mean that Shadrach paid to marry Alice or was it some sort of dowery. Found on a2a. date: 23 Sep. 1815 [from Scope and Content] Settlement: (i) Shadrach Sutton of Ulneswalton, yeoman, (ii) Alice Miller of the same, spinster, and (iii) William Smith of Preston, gent. -- £1000 -- on marriage of S.S. and A.M. Germaine x

It is a marriage settlement. Quite why the Gent was coughing up for her marriage settlement is open to speculation - he may be her natural father, or he may have git her into an interesting condition, be unable to marry her, and paid off a suitable man to marry her instead. I have one of these in my tree, about a hundred years before this - my ancestor, Overseer, local Squire, Justice of the Peace etc, fathers at least seven illegitimate children. Two of the children are born to the same woman and he marries her off to someone in the village - who goes overnight from Ag lab to husbandman, thanks to her marriage settlement. OC

Thanks OC. That is really interesting I have also found Shadracks Will (looks like I will be either paying Preston a visit or spending a lot of money of getting them to send the copies). What I am not sure of who exactly Shadrach is I think he is the brother of my ancestor ( going by the only one I can find on the IGI and what would be his age) though if so why would he leave his sisters children money. Looks like this is an interesting find. Germaine x [from Scope and Content] Will of Shadrach Sutton, farmer -- to Alice his wife interest on £1000, lodged in Bank of Clayton & Co. in Preston. To children of Margaret wife of George Creightey (daughter of brother Thomas) £50. To James, Richard, Margaret and Ann children of Henry and Ann Meadows, both decd., £200. To Alice Worthington and Ann wife of John Crawshaw, his half--sisters, £5 each. To Betty wife of William Norris £5. Residue, including the £1000 after death of wife, to brother William Sutton of North Meols, for life, then to children of W.S. Executors, W.S., George Great Batch of South Port, Robert son of W.S., and James Hooton, all of North Meols. Dated 5 Jan. 1828. (Copy). James Meadows is my GGGGrandfather his father Henry was married to Ann Sutton.