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| 1887 Wedding Photo Of Constance Long and George Walton |
Last week I stopped in Madison, New Jersey on my way to Walden, N. Y. to visit family. Many years ago I visited the Grace Episcopal Church in Madison and discovered a number of Walton family records in their church register of Births, Marriages and Deaths. This time I visited the Madison Public Library's Local History Center, looking for things like City Directories (none in collection), Newspapers and other records that may shed more light on the Walton or Long families residence in Madison.
The library has an extensive index for the local newspaper, "The Madison Eagle" covering the time period I was interested in. Among other things, I was delighted to find the 1887 Wedding announcement of George Walton and Miss Constance Long. The following is an illustrated story of their wedding day.
George Walton
George Walton was born in Cheddleton, an ancient English parish and village in the Staffordshire Moorlands, near the town of Leek, on July 3, 1864. [1]
Records indicate he immigrated from England around 1882, but, to date, I have been unable to find conclusive records of his arrival in the United states. The first conclusive proof of his arrival comes from a job reference dated 1 Feb 1886 in which his employer, George E. Dodge of New York City, writes:
"Geo Walton has been with me for two years, as groom."
An earlier job reference signed "Breese" dated 1883 may indicate his arrival in late 1882, but I have been unable to locate him in either the US or England and therefore do not know for sure where it was he worked for this employer.
A Job reference dated Oct. 20, 1890 from Robert B. Holmes of Madison, New Jersey states :
"George Walton has lived with me, as coachman, for about five years".
Mathematically This means he arrived in Madison about October 20, 1885. As his earlier reference indicates he left George Dodge In Feb of 1886, I must surmise he arrived in Madison in the 1st quarter of 1886, which is still "about" five years from October, 20 1890. [2]
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Robinson's Atlas of Morris County New Jersey, E. Robinson, Publisher 1887
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njmorris/maps/1887mcmap.htm
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Robert B. Holmes resided on Convent Road, later known as Park Avenue in Madison and called his residence "Holmesdale". This is where the couple would reside.
Constance Long
Constance Wilhelmina Long was born in Madison, New Jersey in 1868 and lived their with her parents, William and Elizabeth Long, who were both born in England. [3] William was a house painter and Elizabeth was a house-wife. Their address is listed as the village of Madison in the 1870, 1880 and 1885 Census, however no street address was provided. To date I have been unable to locate a city directory or other source that would provide additional details.
How George and Constance met and began courting is unknown, but with her having English parents, it is likely that George would have become acquainted in church or other social functions with English immigrants like himself.
Marriage
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| 19th Century View of the Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, N. J. |
There is ample evidence that George Walton and Constance Long were joined in Holy Matrimony on Thursday, November 3, 1887 at the Grace Episcopal Church in Madison New Jersey, starting with the "official" record found in the listing entitled "New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980". [4]
Their portrait, above, is reported to be their wedding photo. I received this copy and other wedding documents from cousin Molly (Walton) Lewis who received it from her Aunt Connie, who had received it from her mother, Constance Long Walton.
Their Marriage certificate must have been cherished because it has been preserved for over a century. You can see the tape strengthening the tears in the folds. This document was clearly unfolded and refolded many, many times. How many readers even know where their marriage certificate is? Here's a genealogical hint, make a copy and give it to your kids or grandkids so when the genealogy bug bites, they won't have to search so hard. (By the way, feel free to send me a copy for the "Walton Archives".)
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1887 Wedding Certificate for George and Constance |
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| Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, New Jersey |
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| Alter in Grace Episcopal Church, Madison, New Jersey |
There is a book of Births, Deaths and Marriages at the Grace Episcopal church and in the marriage register I found the following record of their Marriage. Notice that among the witnesses was Mrs. Holmes, the wife of George Walton's Employer, Robert B. Holmes of Holmesdale, where they would reside. Also listed in her brother and "many others".
The following day, Friday, November 4, 1887, their wedding was announced in the local newspaper, "The Madison Eagle". [5] I discovered this when I stopped in Madison last week to do some research.
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From the "Madison Weekly Eagle", Madison, New Jersey, Friday November 4, 1887
discovered by researcher Frederick Walton in the archives of the
Madison Public Library on 2 June 2016
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But it is this newspaper article that opens a special window into the lives of these long gone ancestors who gave many of us our lives by this union. Without this event, many of us would not be here. On this day they were a young happy couple, in love with each other and in love with the promise of a new life together. They had "hosts of friends" who loved them and shared their happiness on this day.
They enjoyed a honeymoon, although we don't know where, but a "wedding tour" would imply a trip to celebrate, even if it was only for a long weekend.When they returned, "many handsome and useful presents awaited them". They would spend many years in this community, attending this church. Other Grace Episcopal records survive to indicate the births, christenings and sadly, deaths of their first 3 children, as well as several surviving children that were born in Madison, including William, Robert, Harry and Charles.
As a researcher, any document I find is valuable and appreciated, but this newspaper article, combined with their photo must be treasured because it brings our ancestors to life.
Footnotes:
1. George Walton, English Birth Certificate from England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915: Registration Year: 1864; Registration Quarter:Jul-Aug-Sep; Registration district: Cheadle; sub-district: Ipstones County; Staffordshire; Volume: 6b; Page: 258. Certified copy dated 3/3/1966 shared with me by cousin Gayle Judd in 2012.
2. I have in my procession a series of Job References that George Walton collected and carried throughout his life. After his death these were passed down in the family. I obtained copies from cousin and genealogist Molly Lewis.
3. [Constance] Long, "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC16-C6P : accessed 14 June 2016), Long, 08 Apr 1868; citing Chatham Twp, Morris, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton.; FHL microfilm 494,163.
4. "New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FZG6-TX1 : 31 March 2016), Geo. Walton and Wilhelmine C. Long, 03 Nov 1887; citing Madison, Morris, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton.; FHL microfilm 495,706.
5. "Walton-Long", "Madison Weekly Eagle", Madison, New Jersey, Friday November 4, 1887, in the archives of the Madison Public Library , Madison, N. J., copied on 2 June 2016.
Transcription:
Walton –Long
A very pretty wedding took place in Grace Church, Thursday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, the contracting parties being George Walton and Miss Constance Long. The groom has for some time past been a resident of Madison, while the bride has hosts of friends who wish her every happiness and comfort. The Rector of the church, Rev. A. V. Tenney performed the ceremony, after which the bridal party repaired to the residence of the bride’s parents, where their friends greeted them and extended their well wishes and congratulations. The bride and groom departed on their wedding tour in the evening, and upon their return will make Madison their home. Many handsome and useful presents await them.
From the "Madison Weekly Eagle", Madison, New Jersey, Friday November 4, 1887 discovered by researcher Frederick Walton in the archives of the Madison Public Library on 2 June 2016
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