Even in the Duggars’ world, not all courtships result in marriage: Teenagers Josiah Duggar and Marjorie Jackson announced their split after four months of purposed dating.
“A few weeks ago Marjorie and Josiah agreed to end their courtship, keeping in step with what they believe the Lord’s will is,” the Duggar and Jackson families said in a joint statement to People. “Both are thankful for the time getting to know each other, and their families continue to enjoy each other’s company and close friendship.”
Josiah, 18, and Marjorie, 17, began their courtship this spring after meeting through her mom, who taught Spanish to Josiah and his siblings. Upon announcing their relationship, Josiah said it was “going very well.” Marjorie added she was drawn to Josiah because of his family.
“For me it was an immediate thing,” she said. “I have always admired him and his family.”
Despite posting updates early in their courtship, Josiah and Marjorie went silent when Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal broke in May. TLC formally canceled 19 Kids and Counting last month. In their statement this week, the families made the split sound like a mutual decision.
“Both Josiah and Marjorie have enjoyed getting to know each other and to build their friendship over the past months,” they said. (Interestingly, the People article is titled “Josiah Duggar Has Ended His Courtship with Marjorie Jackson.”) The families added, “We are so grateful that they each are seeking the Lord’s will for their future.”
Although this is the first time a Duggar courtship has publicly failed, it isn’t entirely uncommon: Friend and Bringing Up Bates star Zach Bates’ first courtship ended in 2012. He went on to marry after another courtship in 2013 and welcomed his first child last fall. As far as we know, no other Duggars are currently courting.
