Be it known by these presents that we John Crownover and Nancy
Castleman of lawfull age inhabitants of Austin's Colony in the
Province of Texas wishing to unite ourselves in the bonds of
Matrimony, each of our Parents having given their Consent to our Union,
and there being no Catholic Priest in the Colony to perform the
Cerimony—therefore I the said John Crownover do agree to take the
said Nancy Castleman for my legal and lawfull wife and as such to
cherish support and protect her, forsaking all others and keeping
myself true and faithfull to her alone, and I the said Nancy
Castleman do agree to take the said John Crownover for my legal and
lawfull husband and as such to love honor [and] obey him forsaking all
others and keeping my[self] true and faithfull to him alone
And we do each of us bind and obligate ourselves to the other under
the penalty of--------- Dollars to have our Marriage solemnised by
the Priest of this Colony or Some other Priest authorised to do so?
as soon as an opportunity offers—All which we do promise in the
name of God, and in presence of Stephen F. Austin judge and
Political Chief of this Colony and the other witnesses hereto signed
Witness our hands the 29th of April 1824
Witnesses present
Be it known that we Sylvanus Castleman and ——— Castleman
the parents of the within named Nancy Castleman do hereby give
our consent to the marriage of our said daughter with the within
named John Crownover— April 29, 1824
Attest
Province of Texas
Austin's Colony
Be it known that the within named John Crownover and Nancy
Castleman personally appeared before me Stephen F. Austin Judge
and Political Chief of this Coloney and in presence of the witnesses
thereto signed did execute and sign the within Contract of Marriage,
and they seperately and mutually promised and obligated themselves
to perform the same in all its parts— And it appearing that the said
contracting parties are of lawfull age—that their Parents consent to
their union, and that no impediment exists to obstruct the same—
and there being no Catholic Priest in the Colony to perform the
cerimony— Therefore I do by these presents declare that a Contract
of Marriage is legally entered into between the said John Crownover
and the said Nancy Castleman and that the said Marriage is and shall
be considered legal and lawfull to all intents and purposes untill an
opportunity offers for its final consummation by a Priest authorised
to celebrate Marriages—
In witness whereof I have signed this in my official capacity this
29 day of April 1824, in the fourth year of the Independence and
third year of the liberty of the Mexican Nation—
[Stephen F. Austin.]