Joy Amidst Sorrow

Two of Margaret's siblings died in childhood. Nancy Jane Taylor died in 1834, the year following her birth. Mary Ann Taylor died in 1838 at about 10 years of age.

In the middle of the tragedies, a joyful event unfolded. Margaret Eliza Taylor married Alexander Morain Shoemaker. We find two documents in Pendleton County, Kentucky Clerk of the Court, Marriage Records proving this happy event. The marriage license entry is found on the bottom of page 233, dated 27 October 1835. It reads, "Alexander M Shoemaker and Margaret Taylor. License obtained by Joseph Taylors personal consent who is the father of Margaret. Said Shoemaker being of full age."[1] Margaret was 17 years old at the time of her marriage.

I would assume that Margaret's father was fully happy with this arrangement. Not only did he give his consent, but he also had named his last son with the Shoemaker name (Heber Shoemaker Taylor, born 21 August 1834).

The second record (found on the bottom of page 244) records their marriage. "I hereby certify I have joined in Matrimony Alexander M. Shoemaker and Margaret Taylor this 29 day of October 1835 both of this County of Pendlton and State of Kentucky. George Graden."[2]


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1 Pendleton County (Kentucky), Clerk of the County Court, Marriage Records, 1799-1962, microfilm publication, 24 reels (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah 1962, 1990, Morgantown, KY: E&K Microfilming), 233.

2 Pendlton County (Kentucky), Clerk of the County Court, Marriage Rcords, 1799-1962, 244.