The JLC Controversy - A Rebuttal

The original of this copy of the marriage bond for Stephen Courtney and Diannah Andruss can be found in the Jefferson County Archives, Dandridge TN. Note that the bond was posted by Stephen Courtney and his brother-in-law, Jacob Haun. Also note that the bond was posted on December 15, 1845. Close-up of lower left corner: Stephen Courtney and Diannah D. Andruss were issued a marriage license on December 15, 1845, the same day their marriage bond was posted. The marriage license that was issued just prior to theirs, on 3 December 1845, had been returned for registration. Stephen and Diannah did not make the 45-mile round trip from their farm on Bent Creek to register their marriage; this is probably the reason their marriage does not appear on marriage indexes for Jefferson County. However, Stephen's (aka Andrew J. Haun's) obituary in 1882 states that he was born in Greene County TN and lived there "until his marriage, which took place December 23, 1845, when he was united to Miss Dinah D. Andrews, at the home of her parents in Jefferson County, Tennessee, Rev. Wm. Senter performing the ceremony."

Further discussion, from both sides of the debate, can be found on GenForum's Courtney Family Genealogy Forum. Return to page 1