There is a marriage contract in Livingston County that provides quite a bit of information on the family of Mrs. Mary Phillips (widow), formerly married to Allen Hodge and Mark Phillips. The contract was written 18 Apr 1842, just before the marriage of Mary of Livingston County and John H. Wood of Christian County, Kentucky, and can be found in Livingston County Deed Book GG, pages 316-317.
In the contract, provisions are made for Mary to keep the control and management of property acquired during her former marriage(s), including five slaves, Elijah, Anthony, Dred, Mary & Caroline. Also named are Mary's children by the marriage to Allen Hodge: Mary Louisa Berry, wife of Cuthbert Berry; Richard Hodge and James Hodge. Richard and James Hodge are to live with Mary and John Wood after the marriage and John is to clothe and school them without cost to Mary.
If your ancestor married more than once, be sure to check the deed books to see if there is a marriage contract. You may just learn some new information.
Originally published 29 July 2008, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog.
