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Wedding Wednesday: Miss Welsh Weds

Some of the greatest discoveries come when you are not even looking for them! I was searching for information on my Uncle Gerry the other day and came across his sister’s (my grandmother) wedding announcement.

23 October 1939
Pottstown Mercury
The announcement – as transcribed:
Miss Mary Rose Welsh, daughter of Katherine Welsh, 413 Vanderslice Street, Phoenixville, and Lloyd Pierson Still, son of Pierson Still, Steamboat Still, Colo., were united in marriage in St. Mary’s rectory, Phoenixville, with the Rev. William Geary officiating Saturday morning at 10 o’clock.
Attendants were Morgan Clark, Unionville, and Miss Laretta Welsh, sister of the bride. A reception followed in the home of the bride. After returning from a honeymoon trip to Canada, the couple will reside temporarily with the bride’s mother and later at Unionville.
The bride is an employe of Schuykill Valley mills, Spring City. Still is employed by Logan Still, Unionville, as a painter and paper hanger.

The announcement appeared in the Pottstown Mercury on Monday, 23 October 1939. That means they married on Saturday, 21 October 1939. They were married in the rectory because my grandmother was Roman Catholic, Latin Rite, which is what St. Mary’s denomination is as well. My grandfather however was Presbyterian. He later converted but in 1939 marrying outside the Catholic faith meant she could not have a wedding mass nor could she even be married in the physical Church.

I have seen my great grandmother (Katherine Welsh) spell her name with both a K and a C both in family records and government / public records. My great grandfather (Pierson Still) lived in Steamboat Springs at the time. I am sure this (Steamboat Still) was simply a typo. He was, at the time, living out there with my Uncle Jim (James Still).

Morgan Clark was a friend of my grandfather’s. My Aunt’s name is also spelled differently. I have always seen in spelled with an “o” not an “a”, as in Loretta. My grandparents lived in Phoenixville while their house was finished up. Logan Still is my grandfather’s uncle (Pierson’s brother). Eventually, my grandfather would own his own painting business in Unionville.

I never did find what I was looking for in regards to my Uncle Gerry but I was so excited to find this.



Wedding Wednesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

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