Church Record Sunday - Emmerson and Gilman in Washington D.C.

Once I was aware of the information contained in the little marriage book (see previous post), I then sent for the official Washington D.C. marriage record.

To any Minister of the Gospel authorized to Celebrate Marriages in the District of Columbia:

You are hereby LICENSED to solemnize the RITES OF MARRIAGE between
George B. Emmerson, of Washington D.C. AND Alice H. Gilman, of Richmond, Va. if you find no lawful impediment thereby; and having so done, you are commanded to appear in the Clerk’s Office of the Supreme Court of said District and certify the same.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 18 day of July, 1874
I, Jn. C. Smith, Minister of 4^th Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C., hereby certify that, by authority of a License of the same tenor as the foregoing, I solemnized the marriage of the parties aforesaid on the 18^th day of July, 1874, at parsonage Washington in the District of Columbia.
John C. Smith

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved

Surname Saturday – Emmerson

According to ancestry.com and the Surname Database, this surname comes from the English name "Emery", itself derived from a Germanic personal name Emaurri, which is composed of the elements amja meaning 'busy' or 'industrious' and ric meaning 'power'.  The name was introduced into England from France by the Normans.  The first recording of "Emery" as a surname dates from about 1182, when a Roger Hemeri was listed in the Cartulary of St. Mary, Clerkenwell (Essex).  Thus, "Emerson", i.e., "the son of Amery or Emery", is first formed as a surname in records in the early 14th Century.

The surname is recorded as Emerson, Emberson and Emmerson in the modern idiom. The marriage of Anthony Emmerson and Margarett Myles was recorded on November 1st 1584 at St. Giles', Cripplegate, London, and one John Emmerson was an early emigrant to the American colonies, leaving London on the "Abigall" in July 1635, bound for New England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Emryson, which was dated circa 1300, Yorkshire Records, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 – 1307.

However, our family picks up at George Benjamin EMMERSON.  George was born about 1852 in Richmond, Virginia.  

The particulars have been lost when George met Alice Hannah GILMAN, also of Richmond, but the couple received a small marriage book which shows the record of their union on 18 July 1874 in Washington D.C.  This is the first source I have on this family line to date.

This certifies that George B Emmerson and
Alice H Gilman were by me
United in Marriage according to the Law of God and of the District
of Columbia at Washington
City this 18^th of July 1874
John C Smith
Pastor Fourth
Presbyterian Church

©2011 – Frank’s Daughter All Rights Reserved