John Sparks and Joice Putman--Union Co. SC Marriage Contract(1815)

This was an interesting find tonight while searching in Union County, South Carolina, Records.

A Marriage Contract to secure each of their belongings for their children from their previous marriages. Joice Putman is the widow of James Putman.  James & Joice Putman were my 4th Great Grandparents.

Page 58

State of South Carolina 
Union District 

Whereas there is & intension of marriage between John Sparks Widower and Joice Putman Widow, the two parties John Sparks and Joice Putman have agreed to make a seperate contract to Secure each ones estate to their own children that is now existing, it is therefore agreed by us John Sparks and Joice Putman, to make these presents our firm and lawfull marriage contract, in the manner and form as follows first John Sparks do agree to take Joice Putman to be his lawfull wife without having any lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is here at the time of their marriage, likewise Joice Putman do agree to take John Sparks to be her lawfull husband without having any lawfull claim to any of the estate or property that is his at the time of their marriage 

Listing of his estate

his land, one Bay Mare, and filley, two Cows and Calves and five head of other cattle, eight head of hogs, One bed and furniture, three pott own and skillet, twelve pewter plates two dishes and Three basons, two tables, one Cubboard, one chest, a flock of Sheep, plantation tools, axes, plows, hogs, & Knives & forks and all his rights and Credits, to remain altogether in his power only the common use of the same during their living and dwelling together

Listing of her estate

One Negro woman named Lucy her two children, Anderson and Peggy, two beds and furniture, two tables, one walnut chest, a Walnut Cubboard, two pots, oven & Spider, eight pewter plates, four Basins and two dishes, a pewter Quart and tea pot, a bread baker and fat Irons, two piggins, a Churn, a spinning Wheel, three Cows & Calves, Sow and pigs and five other hogs, seven chairs, one Side Saddle, One wire Sifter, two Jugs, & c and all her rights and Credits, to remain altogether in her power only the common use of the same during their living and dwelling together.

Witness our hands & seals this tenth day of August 1815, Signed, sealed and confirmed in the presense of us. 

John (His Mark) Sparks(seal)

Joice (Her Mark) Putman (seal)

Test: Ralph Jackson

Thos S Greer

John Hart

Page 59

This is to certify that I have married John Sparks & Joice, his wife, within mentioned, agreeable to the within written Contract, this 10th day of August 1815 

- --- Thos S. Greer, M. G. 

State of South Carolina Union District - 

Ralph Jackson this day personally came before me, and duly made Oath as the law directs, and that he was present and saw John Sparks and Joice Putman, sign & Deliver the within Marriage Contract to each other as their act and deed for the use and purposes within mentioned at the same time saw Thos Greer and John Hart subscribe as Witnesses with himself and also saw the Reverend Thos Greer sign the Certificate on this back of this instrument of their Lawfull Marriage - Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th September 1815  Ralph Jackson

Received this 13th October 1815

Source:

Union County, South Carolina, Register Mesne Conveyance, Vol N, p 58-9, Marriage contract dealing with holdings of John Sparks, widower & Joice Putman widow; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLK-NS84-Y  : accessed 20 March 2026), IGN 8196619, Image 236 of 611.

Always check all copies of records which have been filmed multiple times.

This example from Union Co SC records(Will of James Prince--recorded 28th of September 1789) shows the value of checking BOTH copies of microfilmed records. 

Union District, South Carolina, miscellaneous records, v. 1-2, 1785-1800
Format: Manuscript/Manuscript on Film
Publication: Columbia, South Carolina : South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1974
Physical:  1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C959-696F?i=68&cat=341333

Missing(or covered?)  lower left corner

From 1974 Filming(Image 69 of 256)

Listed under the same main catalog entry and noted as follows

Another filming. Made in 1961 from originals at the Union County Courthouse, Union, South Carolina

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9P1-L3JT?i=68&cat=341333

.

From 1961 Filming(Image 38 of 174)

The catalog listing makes it appear that this is an earlier listing done by SC Dept. of Archives and History.  Image 4 of 174 makes it clear that it is not a filming by SC Dept. of Archives and History with the following notice:

"This microfilm is not an official publication of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.  All Queries concerning this film should be addressed to the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

50 East North Temple Street,

Salt Lake City, Utah 84150."

So in this case the earlier filming was more legible and contained the missing or covered left lower corner.  Regardless, the answer of which of the film to check when there are multiple filmings of the same records is ALL.