Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-10
gos Auaeles alemld.
(From the Evening Express.]
The First Csvil Marriage ia Los
Angeles.


EDITOR EXPRESS: l append be-
low the following document, which
can be found among the old arch
ives in the Recorders office:
In explanation, ] would state
that in lS4S the Mexican law was
In force In California and only
Catholic priests were authorized to
perform the ceremony of marriage,
and, by the rules of the church,
they were not then permitted to
perform the ceremony between
Professionals. Asa civil magistrate,
1 was directed to proceed according
TO Mexican law and of course had
no power in the matter. The lady
had been three months o widow,
and was tired of her lonely life.
Her husband, Seargent Travers,
Co. f, LIST New York regiment, was
killed in December, 1S47, by the
blowing up Of the guard-house In
this place. Lieutenant Vermule,
who was a lawyer, drew up the doc
ument and / singly took the ac-
(knowledg ment
with regard to my fee: I got
the regular fee for such service, but
rs to the kiss from the bride pre-
sumo the witnesses got that among
themselves. s. c. +.
We the undersigned, selected wit.
nesses, in conformity to the deci-
sion Of the Superior Judicial Tri-
bnnal Of the State Of New York, of
which named State the party Of
the first part, James G. Burton,
claims to be q citizen, now serving
the United States as soldier, dur
ing the war with Mexico; and the
party of the second part, Emma G.
Travers, widow of Sargent VIM.
b. Travers, deceased, claims to be a
citIzeness, now residing in Alta
California, in the military occupa-
ton of the United States, do de-
clare upon oath, that the said par
ties, Jas. G. Burton and Emma Z.
Travers, did in our presence, at
this place, Pueblo de Los Angeles,
Alta California, March 9Th, 1913, of
their own free will and choice, as
sume the civic contract of mar
rage, to wit: The said Jas. G. Bur-
ton did freely and of his own
choice, promise and agree to take
the said Emma G. Travers as his
lawful welded wife, to cherish, love
and protect, defend: and support
her, and in every respect to assume
the obligations of husband, as
imposed by the laws of the State
of New York, and tbs said Emma
G. Travers did freely and of her
own choice promise and agree
to assume the civil contract OF
marriage, TO wit: "To take the
said Jas. G. Burton as her lawful
husband, to obey, love, respect and
serve him, and in every respect to
assume the legal obligations of a
lawfully welded woman, as i'm
posed by the laws OF the State of
New York"
Witnesses-James Vanderbeck,
John M. Smith, Thos. l.. Vermule,
John Kays and Chas. A. Webster.
PUEBLO DE Los ANGELES. /
Upper California, March s, 1913. !
Personally appeared before the
subscriber, Alcalde of this District,
invested with judicial powers as II
magistrate, the above named and
signed James Vanderbeck, JOIN
Smith, Thomas l.. Vermule, John
Rays and Charles Webster, and de-
pose and say, upon oath, that the
above statement, referring to the
marriage of James G. Burton and
Emma Z. Travers, is true.
STEPHEN g. FOSTER,
First Alcalde.
N. B.-Tbe original to be re-
tanned and filed in the Alcaltle's
Office, and copy TO be furnished
the bride, in the nature of mar
riage certificate.
The Alcalde should receive a
reasonable fee.