Mary E. (Young) Shaw Was Hiding In Plain Sight

Often when the wife of the Justice of the Peace or Minister performing a wedding acts as a witness, the spouse is a witness primarily because they're there.  But not always.  And not in this case.

I've known for some time that Manley Squier and Caroline Young were married* in Kent County, Michigan, in 1860, at the house of John C. and M. E. Shaw.  A little time was spent trying to place the Shaws way back when, with negative results.

*Squier, Manly, Vermontville, Eaton County, and Caroline Young, Cascade (formerly of Livingston County, N.Y.) 3 May 1860, at house of John C. Shaw, Esq., Cascade, by John B. Shaw, (J.P.) Mrs. M.E. Shaw, and Mrs. Rositta [Webster] Washburn, Cascade, witnesses.

The death record of Caroline (Young) Squier identified her parents as William Young and Mary Alexander.

While updating the search on Mary (Alexander) Young, the 1911 death record for Mary E. Shaw, whose parents were William Young and Mary Alexander, surfaced.

In 1880, John C. (age 61) and Mary E. (age 56) Shaw were living in Leslie, Ingham County, Michigan; also in the household was Charlotte Peck (age 38).  In 1900 the widowed Mary E. Shaw (who had 0 children according to the census) was living with Charlotte Peck, in Leslie, Michigan.

In 1860, the year Caroline Young was married by John Shaw in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, John and Mary E. Shaw were living in Cascade, according to the census.

Census - US Federal 1860 

… Michigan » Kent » Town Of Cascade » Page 117

Shaw, John C (b: 1815*)

Shaw, Mary E (b: 1820*)

Stephenson, Pulaski (b: 1846*)

Not only was Mary E. Shaw, daughter of William and Mary (Alexander) Young a witness at Caroline (Young) Squier's marriage, she was Caroline's sister.  There she was on Caroline's marriage record, hiding in plain sight.

Note: John C. Shaw was a Civil War veteran whose picture and obituary can be found here.