____________________________________________________________________________ Proof of Marriage State of Arkansas, ss. County of Garland, Personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the County of Garland and State of Arkansas, duly appointed, commissioned, qualified, and acting and fully authorized to administer oaths, John T. Lavender aged 54 years, and Matilda Lavender aged 52 years, both of whom are residents of the County of Garland in the State of Arkansas, but whose Post Office address is Chrystal Springs in the County of Montgomery and State of Arkansas, both of whom being by me duly sworn according to law, deposeth and sayeth: that they were present at the residence of Rebecca Orrick at Pike County, Arkansas on the 28 day of December A.D. 1870 and witnessed the Marriage Ceremony performed by Parson Ewing Alford, M.G., between Abijah Barentine and Celia Ann Orrick; and they further state that they have had personal knowledge of the said Abijah Barentine and Celia Ann Barentine nee Orrick each and every year from the said 28th day of December 1870 up to the present time this 21 day of October 1896 and that they have personal knowledge and do know that they have lived peaceably, continually, and uninterruptedly together as husband and wife ever since their said marriage and they further state that they have no interest in this matter either direct or indirect, present or prospective; and that their Post Office address is Chrystal Springs, Montgomery County, State of Arkansas. John T. Lavender Matilda E. Lavender Attest: May Brown Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 21 day of October 1896 A.D. and I hereby certify that affiants are to me well known as respectable and credible persons whose statements are entitled to full faith and credit and that their reputation for truth and veracity is good and without question and that they are so regar(d)ed and reputed by the community in which they reside or where every they are known; and I further certify that I carefully read over said affidavit to said affiants and acquainted them with the nature and purposes of said affidavit at and before the execution hereof and I am satisfied from an examination of the witnesses or affiants herein, that they fully understood the same and I further certify that I am in no wise interested in this matter and that my commission expires on the 31st day of January 1898 and that my Post Office address is Arkansas. R.D. Suddeth Notary Public ____________________________________________________________________________ State of Arkansas, County of Pike, I, M.M. Mauney, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Recorder within and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing and annexed instrument of writing was filed in my office for record on the 22nd day of February A.D. 1897 at 1 o'clock P.M. and that the same is now duly recorded with the acknowledgment and certificate thereon, in record Book B, Pages 335 and 336. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official Seal this the 23rd day of February A.D. 1897. (Seal) M.M. Mauney, Clerk ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County, Arkansas Deed Book B, pages 335-336. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.