Prenuptual Agreement, Raleigh County, 1876

Alex Cantley to Tempa Hopkins, Article of Agreement

An Article of Agreement made and entered into this 23^d day of August 1876
by and betwen Alexander Cantley of the County of Raleigh and State of West Va of the
first part and [unreadable] Tempa Hopkins of the County and State aforesaid. The
condition of the above obligation is such that the above named Alexander Cantley
and the said Tempa Hopkins has this day bargained and agreed with theirselves to be-
come lawful husband and wife on condition herein set forth that is to say that all
the personal property now owned and held by the said Tempa Hopkins is to be her
one [own] individual property to the use of her and her owne heirs with all the increase of said property free from Alexander Cantley and his heirs. And it is further agreed
that this Article of Agreement shall not deprive the said Tempa Hopkins from her
lawful dowry in the estate of the said Alexander Cantley should he decease this life
first then the remainder of his estate to be to the use and benefit of his Children or Lawful heirs. This obligation to be in force from the date of Marriage by the said Parties in witness whereof we set our hand and seal the day and year above written.

Alexander Cantley
Tempa Hopkins

State of West Virginia
Raleigh County August the 23^d 1876

I, William C. Acord a Justice in the said County do hereby certify that Alexander Cantley and Tempa Hopkins whose names assigned to the writing hereto annext bearing date on the 23^d day of August 1876 personally appeared before me and acknowledged the same to be their act and agreement and acknowledges the same to Record in the Clerks Office in said County, given under my hand this the 23^d day of August 1876.
William C. Acord

West Virginia, Raleigh County Court Clerk’s office
Oct. 6^th, 1876
The foregoing Article of Agreement duly acknowledged & certified who this day presented to [unreadable] in my said office for Record and was this [unreadable] admitted.
Teste John Beckley, Clk.

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Source: Alexander Cantley and Tempa Hopkins agreement, 23 August 1876, Raleigh County [November Term 1876 Records – book title unknown]:243, County Clerk’s Office, Beckley, West Virginia.