This agreement, made and entered into this 18th day of January A.D. 1871 by and 
between James M. Sexton and Mary A. March both of the county Jackson and State of 
Missouri, Witnesseth that the said James M. Sexton and Mary A. March being about to 
enter into the bonds of matrimony and being desirous that each should retain an 
exclusive right of Control over his or her property which they now own, Therefore it 
is hereby mutually agreed and contracted that She the Said Mary A. March is to have
full and complete ownership and control, possession and right to all the property
She at this time holds (for and during the time the Said marriage Shall exist that 
is to say during the lives of both parties) be that property, Real or personal.
She Shall have the right to dispose of said property during the marriage by Will or 
otherwise and the same Shall not be subject to the disposal, or to the payment of the 
debts of the said James M. Sexton.  It is understood also that said property Shall 
include debts credits and choses in action to which the said Mary A. March may at 
this or any future time be entitled.  And in consideration of the above provisions, 
contract and agreement the said Mary A. March, doth hereby agree and consent that the 
estate and property of the Said James M. Sexton both Real and personal Shall be 
released exempted and acquitted from all claim and right which She might otherwise 
acquire in the Same by virtue of the contemplated marriage between the Said James M. 
Sexton and her the Said Mary A. March either as Dower or otherwise.
In witness whereof, they the Said James M. Sexton and Mary A. March have each hereto 
subscribed their names.  And affixed their Seals this 18th day of January A.D. one 
thousand Eight hundred and Seventy one (1871)
				
				
				J M Sexton (Seal)
				Mary A March (Seal)
The signatures are notarized by James B. Campbell, Notary Public
Lee's Summit -- Jackson Co. Missouri

NOTE: It is assumed by the signature of James Sexton that he was elderly.
Mary A. had been married before and her property was probably a result of her
first marriage.  She wanted to be sure that her property would remain hers and
would be inherited by her children from the first marriage.  It would "not be
subject to the disposal, or to the payment of the debts of......James Sexton."
In return for retaining all rights to her previously acquired property, Mary A.
gave up her rights to Mr. Sexton's real and personal property, both during the
marriage and afterwards, when she would have had widow's (dower) rights.
This contract ensured that each party to the marriage would keep his or her
own property and pass it on to their own children from the earlier marriages.
It is possible that the reason for this contract was simply that she was much
wealthier than he, and did not want her wealth, however acquired, to go to pay
his debts or to be inherited by his children.   Whatever the reasons, the end
result was to keep each marriage partner's property separate, to be used and
disposed of as each individual wished. 
[and we thought marriage contracts were recent developments]

==============================================================================

Family Group Record

Husband         : George Washington MARCH
Born/Place      : 26 Aug 1810 Jessamine Co KY
Died/Place      : 1855 Booneville Co MO
Married/Place   : 23 Aug 1835 Jessamine Co KY could have been Sep
Husband's father: Lawrence MARCH
Husband's mother: Sarah "Sally" WOOD
Wife            : Mary Ann GREGG
Born/Place      :  1819 KY
Other Spouse    : James M SEXTON
Married/Place   : 17 Jan 1871 Cass Co MO

Children

1 M   James Lawrence MARCH
Born/Place   : 18 Jun 1836 Fayette Co KY
Died/Place   : 1923 MO
Spouse       : Mary L DOBBINS
Married/Place: 12 Mar 1872 Pettis Co MO
Spouse       : Sarah CREGGER
Married/Place: 12 Apr 1883 Cass Co MO

2 F  Susan Eleanor MARCH
Born/Place   : 01 Dec 1838 Greene Co IL
Spouse       : George Washington SCOTT
Married/Place: 14 Jan 1858 Jackson Co MO

3 M  Jacob Samuel MARCH
Born/Place   : 19 Feb 1841 Greene Co IL

4 M  Wallace McCambell MARCH
Born/Place   : 20 Apr 1843 Greene Co IL
Died/Place   : Mar 1902 MO

5 M  William Daniel MARCH
Born/Place   : 25 Dec 1845 Greene Co IL

6 M  Darius Gregg MARCH
Born/Place   : 12 Jan 1848 Greene Co IL

7 M  John Walter Morris MARCH
Born/Place   : 26 Jun 1850 St Louis MO
Spouse       : Anna LOVE
Married/Place: 06 Jun 1876 Cass Co MO

8 M  Son Of George W MARCH
Born/Place   : 16 Nov 1852 Cooper Co MO
Died/Place   : died as inf.

9 F  Sarah Jane MARCH
Born/Place   : 11 May 1854 Cooper Co MO
Died/Place   : died young 

==============================================================================

Ancestors of George Washington MARCH

      |  4. Rudolph I (Martz) MARCH (b.Abt 1720; m.Abt 1748;d.09 Nov 1771-Rowan Co NC)
   |  3. Rudolph II MARCH (b.Abt 1758-PA;m.27 Sep 1779;d.13 Aug 1835-Richmond KY-Madison Co)
      |  4. Amelia BARR (b.Abt 1730)
|  2. Lawrence MARCH (b.09 Apr 1789-KY;m.17 Aug 1809;d.28 Aug 1845-Greene Co IL)
   |  3. Agnes ROBERTS (b.Abt 1764;d.Aft May 1840-Rowan Co NC)
1. George Washington MARCH (b.26 Aug 1810-Jessamine Co KY;m.23 Aug 1835;d.1855-Booneville Co MO)
   |  3. Stephen WOOD
|  2. Sarah "Sally" WOOD (b.09 Mar 1782-Rowan Co NC;d.09 Sep 1841-Greene Co IL)
   |  3. Preshea RILEY



Submitted by Charlotte Ramsey from Contract contributed by Linda George Maniaci  

Charlotte Curlee Ramsey
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cramsey/index.html