Description:

Mary Lincoln
Lexington, KY; Springfield, IL, November 9, 1849; December 17, 1849
Permissions for Mary Lincoln's Cousin to Marry, Signed by Her Uncle
Archive

In this pair of documents, John Todd, the uncle of future First Lady Mary Lincoln, and Thomas H. Shelby give permission for their daughter and son to marry. Mary Lincoln's cousin Fannie S. Todd married Thomas H. Shelby Jr. in 1849.

[Mary Todd Lincoln]. TODD FAMILY, Archive of two letters, 1849.

Contents and Excerpts
- John Todd, Autograph Letter Signed, to Clerk, December 17, 1849, Springfield, Illinois. 1 p., 5" x 8".
"The Clerk of the County Court will grant a marriage License to Mr Thomas H Shelby & my daughter Fannie S Todd and this shall be his authority."

- Thomas H. Shelby, Autograph Letter Signed, to Clerk, November 9, 1849, Lexington, Kentucky. 1 p., 8" x 5".
"This will certify that my son Thos H. Shelby Jr. has my entire approbation, to become united in marriage with Miss Fannie S. Todd of Springfield, Illinois, and that he will be 21 years of age on the 1st day of Feby 1850 Given under my hand the date above"

Dr. John Todd (1787-1865) was born near Lexington, Kentucky, and was one of the first graduates of Transylvania University. He was the older brother of Robert Smith Todd (1791-1849), the father of future First Lady Mary Lincoln. John Todd graduated from the Medical University of Philadelphia and served in the War of 1812 as Surgeon General of the Kentucky troops before returning to Lexington to practice medicine. In 1813, he married Elizabeth Smith, and they had seven children. They settled in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1817. In 1827, he became the register of the General Land Office in Springfield, a position he held until 1829, when he was removed for political reasons. He continued to practice medicine in Springfield until his death.

Frances S. Todd Shelby (1832-1851) was born to Dr. John Todd and his wife Elizabeth Smith Todd, the youngest of seven children. In December 1849, she married Thomas H. Shelby Jr. She died in childbirth at age 19.

Thomas H. Shelby Jr. (1829-1895) was born in Lexington, Kentucky, to Thomas H. Shelby (1789-1869) and Mary Ann Bullock Shelby (1800-1836). He was the grandson of the first Kentucky governor, Isaac Shelby. He was educated at Transylvania University. He married Frances S. Todd (1851) in 1849, and they had one child. After her death, he married Florence McDowell in 1856, and they had twelve children.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 5"; 5" x 8"
  • Medium: Archive

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