Early Black Marriages of Ft. Smith, Arkansas - Freedman's Bureau 1865-1867
Marriges by Bride*
Note that several of the marriages that took place in 1865 occurred between former female slaves who did not have a surname listed at the time of their marriage. All took the surnames of their husbands after the marriages, but they were registered without surnames. Those who might descend from these marriages are encouraged to explore their family oral history thoroughly to learn to which families there might have been an affialiation through enslavement of their female progenitor. Since their surnames are not known They their surnames are replaced by the question mark symbol (?) instead. They are also listed at the top of the list before the remaining marriages.
Names are in order of Bride's Surname (if known), Given name, Age, Groom's Suraname, Groom's Given Name, Age , Date of Marriage
? Amanda 20 - Bliss, William 23 Jan 2, 1866
? Caroline - Emerson, Samuel 27 March 31, 1866
? Clarissa 40 - Jackson, Thomas 33, Jan 7, 1866
? Elizabeth 35 - Harris, Peter 36 Dec 28, 1865
? Ellen 23 - Lyons, Robert 28 Aug 18, 1866
? Hattie 26 - Jenkins, John 32 Dec 24, 1865
? Jane 23 - Thompson, Edward 35 Dec 2, 1865
? Julia 21 - Evans, Robert 22 Feb 2, 1866
? Linda 26 - Miles, Ryal 31 Nov. 19, 1865
? Lucy 24 - Flannagan, John 30 Jan 8, 1866
? Maria 24 - Cole, Nelson Nov 25, 1865
? Mattie 25 - Williams, Daniel Jan 8, 1866
? Parella 18 - Franklin, Doctor 43 Dec 29, 1865**
? Sallie 22 - Smith, Oliver 24 Jan 3, 1866
? Vinnie 27 - Brown, Austin 23 Feb 6, 1866
Alexander, Elizabeth Jane 21 - Pennington, Albert, 28 Jan 29, 1866
Allen, Hannah 19 - Holmes, Simon 27 Nov. 19, 1866
Allen, Isabel 16 - Watson, Shelton July 29, 1866
Anderson, Sarah Jane 17 - Peoples, William M. 47 March 1, 1866
Bennett, Harriett 23 - Scott, James 35 May 10,1866
Blackman, Arena 23 - Bennett, Porter, 23 April 4, 1866
Bolin, Emeline 20 - Woodson, Edward 29 Dec 17, 1865
Brooks, Annette 19 - Davis, William 30 April 15, 1866
Brown Katie - Weber, Levi 21 Feb 11, 1866
Cole, Lucy 20 - Carter, Nathaniel 22 Jan 18,1866
Coleman, Emily 18 - Patrick, Albert 28 Nov. 15, 1866
Dixon, Emma 19 - Dean - Samuel 24 May 27, 1866
Dougherty, Lovace 21 - Jackson, Williwm 30 April 8, 1866
Edwards, Lavenia Jane - Webster, Berry Franklin Jan 4, 1866
Ellenburg,Delia Ann 20 - Kirkwood, William 23 Dec 4, 1865
Frances, Mary 34 - Carney, Robert 35 Jan 10, 1866
Fulsom, Amanda 17 - Douglas, Richard 21 June 3, 1866
Gunter, Susan 27 - Perry, Charles 22 Dec 22, 1865
Han, Martha 29 - Williams Thomas 27 Dec 24, 1865
Hale, Gracie 27 - McDaniel Isaac 28 Dec 25, 1865
Henry, Amanda - Thompason, Major 27 Nov 7, 1866,
Holtcomb, Caroline 37 Skipper, David Dec 24, 1865
Delia Johnson 23 - Alexander, Lambert, 35 Jan 21, 1867
Johnson, Hester 28 - Ragsdale, Boone 46 Feb 24. 1867
Jones, Jane 17 - Nicholas, Samuel 35 Dec 28, 1865
Knox, Annie 23 - Reed, Harrison 24 March 29, 1866
Kripe, Ann 30 - Dovey, John 39 Feb 26, 1866
LaFleur, Jane 22 - Walker, Duncan 23 Feb 27, 1866
Louis, Dilsie Ann 27 - Easan, Burl 28
Magee, Harriet 22 - Murry, George 24 April 4, 1866
Martin, Ida 24 - Henson, Elias 25 April 7, 1866
Miller, Clarissa 23 - Brown, James, 25 Dec 14, 1865
Nicholson, Pinkie 19 - Dawson, Nelson 24 May 13, 1866
Owens, Mary 17 - Washington, John 25 Mar 8, 1866
Paris, Susan 19 - Washington, William 23 Dec 2, 1866
Parker, Ida 18 - Connelly, Henry 21 Mar 3, 1866
Peak, Mary 23 - Francis, Isaac 47 Oct 31, 1866
Powell, Marie 16 - McClure, John 26 Dec 24, 1865
Prior, Laura 21 - Ward, William 22 July 31, 1866
Redding, Elizabeth 23, - Harris, General 31 Jan 22,1866
Ross, Catherine 24 - Jackson, Thomas 33 Jan 7, 1866
Sanders, Belle 21 - Green, Robert 27 Nov 28, 1866
Sanger, Martha 17 Williams, Nathaniel 25 Feb 11 1866
Smith,Mary Ann 30 - Smith, Charlie 26 Jan 28,1866
Sparks, Louisa 23 - Jackson, Andrew 25 April 16, 1866
Van(n), Louza 22 - Blair, Henerson 22 Jan 20, 1867
Vernon, Amanda 19 - King, Solomon 26 Feb 10, 1867
Wagner, Elizabeth 22 - Shields, John 23 Nov 28, 1865
Walker, Bennie 18 - Busby, Thomas 21 Jan 28, 1866
Walker, Rachel 22 - Brown, Isaac 21 Feb 19, 1866
Weber, Rosa 20 - Lock Anderson 22 Feb 11, 1866
Wheeler, Margaret 22 - Grey, Joseph 36 April 29, 1866
Williams, Louvenia 18 - Burton, Hardy 21 June 2, 1866
* The source of this data comes from the original records at the National Archives in Washington DC, of Record Group 105--The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands from the Military Branch of the National Archives. These marriages are listed as poart of Entry #381 beginning on page 49 in records from the Ft. Smith Arkansas Subordinate Field Office to the Freedman's Bureau.
** Parella and Franklin, Doctor had originally been married in another ceremony on Nov. 18, 1864, and the marriage was re-recorded on Dec. 29, 1865 by the military chaplain at the Freedman's Bureau.
This marks the end of the entire list of Black Marriages performed at the Freedman's Bureau Office in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, between December, 1865 and Spring of 1867.
In 1865, 17 marriages were performed at the Bureau office.
In 1866, 48 marriages were performed at the Bureau office.
In 1867, 4 marriages were performed at the Bureau office.
A total of 69 marriages were performed by the Ft. Smith Freedman's Bureau prior to the city recording all black marriages in court house records. This is the earliest known list of black marriages in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
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