WITH THIS RING - MARRIAGE RECORDS
In celebration of Craig's and my 42nd anniversary, I thought Marriage records would be a fitting topic for July. Marriage records have changed over time, and were not required by U.S. states until between 1911-1962. Fortunately, counties began keeping track in the 1700s, but, unfortunately, courthouse fires or floods destroyed many early records. Often, one marriage would contain more than one entry; according to the North Carolina archives, records (1741-1868) might include: 1. A Marriage bond – a statement of intent of the prospective groom to marry the prospective bride, and was filed with the clerk of the county court in which the bride resided. A security deposit was made by one or more bondsmen, and would be forfeited if the marriage did not occur; and 2. A Marriage Return – after a wedding, the minister who officiated the ceremony was to submit a Return with the County Court. Many times this was not done a...