Wooden Seeds
Marriage Records Project
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Groom
Bride
Date
Document
Type
Witness
Relation
Submitted By
John Richard Woods
Mattie Lucas
Nov 18 1889
Bond
J R Woods
W A Woods
Andrew Lucas
Son of
Jeremiah W. Woods
Verna Woods
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Choctaw County Woods
Webster County Marriage Index
Marriage Terms
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Marriage Record
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Definition: A marriage record contains information about a marriage between two individuals. Besides the full names of the individuals being married and the date and location of the marriage, a marriage record may also contain additional information such as the ages of the bride and groom, their occupation and residence, the names and birthplaces of the bride's and groom's parents, information about previous marriages, the clergyman's name, and possibly the names of sponsors or witnesses.
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Marriage Bond
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Definition: In earlier times, a marriage bond was given to the court by the intended groom prior to his marriage. It affirmed that there was no moral or legal reason why the couple could not be married and it also affirmed that the groom would not change his mind. If he did, and did not marry the intended bride, he would forfeit the bond. The bondsman, or surety, was often a brother or uncle to the bride, not necessarily a parent. The bondsman could also be related to the groom, or even be a neighbor or friend, but those situations occurred less often.
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Bans/Intentions
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Definition: Public announcement, especially in a church, of an intended marriage. In many churches, banns were read aloud on three successive Sundays.
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Consent Affidavit
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Definition: Consent given by a parent or guardian (usually the father) in cases where the bride or groom was under the minimum legal age for marriage
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Dowry
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Definition: The money, goods or estate that a wife brought to her husband at marriage.
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Finding Marriage Records
Many researchers who are hoping to prove a marriage are often frustrated by the lack of such records. In the colonial period, the parishes of the churches were supposed to record all marriages within the parish, even if the parties were members or not. Apparently sometimes it seems that this wasn't done or the records are not there. States had passed marriage license statues and some early counties or districtes did issue licenses and bonds.
Some states had marriage settlements, usually pre-martial agreements, which concern property and recorded in the deed books for the counties where the couple resided. These settlements are often found among Miscellaneous Records in the state archives.
Newspapers are some of the best sources for an exact date of marriage. Prior to 1860, newspapers were regional and covered several counties or districts. Check not only the county the couple had resided, but the surrounding counties.
Pension application from any war are apt to contain marriage record, especially those applications of widows. The widows were usually required to provide proof of their marriage to the soldier on whose services they claim a pension. Federal pensions from any war are available at the National Archives. For Confederate pensions, check the state's archives.
Church records may contain marriage records. Not all religions recorded marriage records. Your local Family History Library has microfilmed many church/parish records and are available to the researcher.
There are other records which will provide proof of a marriage such as wills, court cases and deeds. These often will even give date, a place of the marriage and the relationships which prove that a marriage had taken place. Abstracts of wills are a good source.
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