The Ancestor Hunt

Your ancestors may have left more than one record of their marriage. Even when a civil marriage certificate survives, the church marriage register may contain additional information about the couple, their families, and the people who witnessed the ceremony. And for marriages that occurred before civil registration began, the church register may be the only […]

You found your ancestor’s marriage certificate. Case closed? Not necessarily. Marriage certificates can contain valuable clues about the couple, their parents, witnesses, and the circumstances of the wedding. But the certificate you found may not be the only version of the record—and another version could contain information that yours does not. Introduction A marriage certificate […]

When an ancestor died suddenly, unexpectedly, or under unusual circumstances, their death may have triggered an investigation that created an entirely different set of records. A coroner’s inquest can reveal witnesses, family relationships, and details about an ancestor’s final days that may never appear on a death certificate or in an obituary. Introduction A coroner’s […]

Too young to marry without permission? That requirement may have created another record. An underage consent affidavit can do more than document approval of a marriage—it may identify a parent or guardian and provide evidence of a family relationship that is difficult to find elsewhere. Introduction When a prospective bride or groom was below the […]

Finding your ancestor’s marriage license is exciting, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found proof that the wedding actually happened. A marriage license was permission to marry, and the original document may contain valuable information about the couple that never made it into the marriage certificate or register. Introduction A marriage license was an official […]

Before some couples could marry, someone had to put money on the line. A marriage bond was a financial guarantee that there was no legal reason the marriage should not take place—and the person signing that bond may provide an unexpected clue about the bride, groom, or their families. Introduction A marriage bond was a […]

Before there was a marriage certificate, there might have been three public announcements telling an entire congregation that a marriage was about to take place. Those announcements—the marriage banns—may survive even when the marriage record you are searching for does not. Introduction Marriage banns were public announcements of an intended marriage, traditionally made in a […]