November Nuptials
Happy Thanksgiving!
Every day provides opportunities to be grateful. I am so thankful for resources and options, for experiences and miracles, for family and friends, and for stories of my amazing ancestors.
Currently in my genealogy database, there are over 7000 family members. That file contains nearly 100 November wedding anniversaries! My great, great grandparents married on Thanksgiving Day, 1878. Let’s take a look at their November Nuptials.
Rector-Senate Marriage
Milton Amos Rector (1855-1951) was born and raised in Tazewell (TAZZ-well) County, Illinois. His father, Ezra, died young, but Milton and his siblings continued to live on their father’s land just west of the town of Dillon.
Milton’s future bride grew up about a mile away in Sand Prairie Township, Tazewell County. Charlotte “Lottie” Ann Senate (1861-1952) undoubtedly met Milton in their close-knit, rural community.
Tazewell County, Illinois Marriage License and Certificate1Tazewell County, Illinois Loose Marriage Records scanned by the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society. Rector-Senat Marriage November 28, 1878.
Tazewell County, Illinois Marriage Return2Tazewell County, Illinois Loose Marriage Records scanned by the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society. Rector-Senat Marriage November 28, 1878.
What do these 2 documents tell us?
The Marriage License was issued on Monday, November 25, 1878. William McKay, a minister of the gospel, performed the ceremony on Thursday, November 28, 1878 in Sand Prairie, Tazewell County, Illinois.
Milton Rictor [sic] was a 23-year-old groom, a farmer, born and residing in Dillon (Tazewell County, Illinois). This was his first marriage. His parents were Ezra Rector [deceased] and Susan Tunes [sic].
Lottie A. Senat [sic] is listed as 17 years old. Or does the record indicate that in the year 1878 she would be 17 years old? (Her birthday is traditionally given as December of 1861.) Lottie’s parents, John Senat and Margrit [sic] Ann Hawkins, consented to the marriage (because Lottie was underage). She was born in Elm Grove, Tazewell County, Illinois and resided in Sand Prairie. This was her first marriage.
The first witness was Wilson A. Rictor [sic]; his possible familial relationship is unclear. Often a friend of the bride’s family, the second witness is also unknown to me. James M. Shay lived in Tazewell County, but the extent of the relationship is not established.
Anniversary Celebrations
Lottie and Milton Rector, 1938: 60th Anniversary photo from the Harper County Journal3Married Sixty Years Ago. Harper County (OK) Journal. November 24, 1938, page 1.
When they celebrated their 70th anniversary, the Harper County Journal reported:
Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Rector, pioneer Harper county settlers and residents of the county until a few years ago, are observing their 70th wedding anniversary at their home in Beaver on Thanksgiving Day.
Actually married on November 28, 1878 in Circleville, Ill., the Rectors have chosen Thanksgiving Day as their annual anniversary date since they were married on Thanksgiving Day.”
Indeed, the Rectors were pioneer settlers in the Oklahoma panhandle. See a photo of their homestead-Sod House in this post.
The Daily Oklahoman ran a short article and photo of the Rectors in 1949.4A Thankful Day. The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City). November 24, 1949. page 9.
Milton was in his 90s and Lottie in her late 80s.
Newest November Nuptials
On November 19, 2022, one of Milton and Lottie’s 3x great grandsons married. Thus they continued the tradition of November Nuptials.
Congratulations to David and Kayla!! May you grow old together, like our great, great, great grandparents did.
SOURCES
- 1Tazewell County, Illinois Loose Marriage Records scanned by the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society. Rector-Senat Marriage November 28, 1878.
- 2Tazewell County, Illinois Loose Marriage Records scanned by the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society. Rector-Senat Marriage November 28, 1878.
- 3Married Sixty Years Ago. Harper County (OK) Journal. November 24, 1938, page 1.
- 4A Thankful Day. The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City). November 24, 1949. page 9.