Monday, October 10, 2011

A Marriage Conundrum - Max & Margaret (Leisure) Ewing

Max Ewing and Margaret Leisure were married 14 Aug 1927 in Rush County, Indiana. At the time the groom was living in New Castle and the bride in Carthage. Max's birth is listed as 18 Sept 1905 in Rush County born to Wm Ewing and Mary A Price. Margaret's birth is listed as 16 Nov 1910 in Shelby County* to Dora R Leisure and Anna V West**.

Then, Max Ewing and Margaret Leisure were married 24 Apr 1937 in Bartholomew County, Indiana. At the time the groom was living in New Castle and the bride in Columbus. Max's birth is listed as 18 Sept 1905 in Rush County born to William Ewing and Mary Price. Margaret's birth is listed as 16 Nov 1909 in Shelby County* to Dora R Leisure and Anna V West***.

The earlier marriage definitely took place as the couple is found together in New Castle, Henry County on the 1930 census. They are listed as married; he married at age 22 and she age 17****. Margaret's brother Tyrus was living with them as well.

There you have the conundrum. Why were they married twice? Did they divorce and remarry? Did they think they should remarry because Margaret hadn't been truthful about her age at the first marriage?

Based on their obituaries, Max and Margaret never had any children so there are no direct descendants to query. If anyone out there has resolved this mystery, I'd love to know what it is.


 *(This is incorrect, her parents were born in Shelby County but she was born in Rush County and is listed in Rush County Births Book 5, page 47.)
**Rush County Marriage Records Bk 22, Pg.71 & LDS film 1837933, digital folder 4186014, image 00071 on familysearch.org Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 (search for Max Ewing)
*** LDS film 1940484, digital folder 4201891, image 00206 on familysearch.org - Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 (search for Max Ewing)
**** 1930 US census, New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 23, p.9B, dwelling 185, family 189, Max Ewing; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http:/www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Oct 2010); from National Archives microfilm T626, roll 593.