Be it known by these presents that we John Crownover and Nancy Castleman of lawfull age inhabitants of Austin's Colony in the Province of Texas wishing to unite ourselves in the bonds of Matrimony, each of our Parents having given their Consent to our Union, and there being no Catholic Priest in the Colony to perform the Cerimony—therefore I the said John Crownover do agree to take the said Nancy Castleman for my legal and lawfull wife and as such to cherish support and protect her, forsaking all others and keeping myself true and faithfull to her alone, and I the said Nancy Castleman do agree to take the said John Crownover for my legal and lawfull husband and as such to love honor [and] obey him forsaking all others and keeping my[self] true and faithfull to him alone And we do each of us bind and obligate ourselves to the other under the penalty of--------- Dollars to have our Marriage solemnised by the Priest of this Colony or Some other Priest authorised to do so? as soon as an opportunity offers—All which we do promise in the name of God, and in presence of Stephen F. Austin judge and Political Chief of this Colony and the other witnesses hereto signed

Witness our hands the 29th of April 1824

Witnesses present

Be it known that we Sylvanus Castleman and ——— Castleman the parents of the within named Nancy Castleman do hereby give our consent to the marriage of our said daughter with the within named John Crownover— April 29, 1824

Attest

Province of Texas

Austin's Colony

Be it known that the within named John Crownover and Nancy Castleman personally appeared before me Stephen F. Austin Judge and Political Chief of this Coloney and in presence of the witnesses thereto signed did execute and sign the within Contract of Marriage, and they seperately and mutually promised and obligated themselves to perform the same in all its parts— And it appearing that the said contracting parties are of lawfull age—that their Parents consent to their union, and that no impediment exists to obstruct the same— and there being no Catholic Priest in the Colony to perform the cerimony— Therefore I do by these presents declare that a Contract of Marriage is legally entered into between the said John Crownover and the said Nancy Castleman and that the said Marriage is and shall be considered legal and lawfull to all intents and purposes untill an opportunity offers for its final consummation by a Priest authorised to celebrate Marriages—

In witness whereof I have signed this in my official capacity this 29 day of April 1824, in the fourth year of the Independence and third year of the liberty of the Mexican Nation—

[Stephen F. Austin.]