Three days ago, I posted about Serilda Gilliland marrying John Bridges twice and that John went to prison for murder.  I was able to unravel a little bit more today.  First, I looked up the Daniel G. Stewart who was a minister from 1835 to 1837 again, and he was actually Daniel S. Stewart and is not the same D.G. Stewart who married them.  I looked in a different city directory today (1848) and David G. Stewart was listed as a homeopathic doctor.  Having the correct first name, I looked him up in the newspaper index and found a listing for an obituary.  According to his obituary in the New Albany Daily Ledger Standard (9 Apr 1878, p.4, c.2-3), David G. Stewart was a doctor who moved to New Albany in 1832.  He joined the First Christian Church and regularly preached when the the pastor was absent.  He was not ordained.  Therefore, Serilda and John’s first marriage was not valid.  Now I know the mechanics of why they were married twice, but I’m still left wondering how he got out of prison for it.

Now, on to the murder trial…

The State of Indiana v. John Bridges:  Coroner’s Inquest

New Albany Daily Tribune, 17 Jan 1859, p.3, c.1, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room