South Carolina }
York District } I John Niven
on oath certify that
I have known Elizabeth Mursh for
the last forty years, and was acquainted
with her husband, Rev. Robert
Mursh for several years before my acquaint-
tance with his family, and have lived
with in quarter mile for the last
forty years. I have often heard Rev.
Robert Mursh speak of his marriage
to his said wife (Elizabeth), as follows:
That they were publicly and sol-
emly announced as husband and
wife by an itinerant Baptist Preacher
on those several occasions, from
the stand (an Itinerant Station) which
was a custom or form of marriage
with their Tribe (being Indians). And
on the third announcement, they
were regarded legally married and
ever afterwards were regarded as
husband and wife, which form of
marriage was considered legal and
binding, but that he and his wife
were afterwards married by a Baptist
Preacher to which denomination
the said Robert and his wife had
attached themselves, and the
said Robert intending to take orders
as a Minister of the Gospel in
that denomination, submitted to
the form of marriage practiced by
that denomination that no objection
might be raised against him as a minister