When You Can't Find a Marriage Record | Ancestry

We all know the importance of finding documentation about the facts we put into our family tree. But, what happens when you can't find the marriage records you need? Join Crista Cowan for a look at alternative places to find marriage information.
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When You Can't Find a Marriage Record | Ancestry
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[@claudettefloyd3976]

Will keep on looking . Thank you Crista.

[@margieszymanskyj5416]

I enjoyed your talk. I do hope there will be more to come. Thank you.

[@annmariejackowski8994]

This is a great new feature which allows users to categorize ancestors! Although my tree is small in comparison, it would be great to tag brickwalls and then filter so that I know who needs more work. Hopefully is it helpful to others who view your tree to understand how the owner fits into the tree since all users would be private unless the tree is shared. When a tree is large, I find it really difficult to figure out how the owner is related to a particular ancestor that i might be researching. I can't wait to start using this feature! Since I just discovered a pair of scoundrels in the family, I will be creating that custom tag! Thanks, Crista!

[@MrDaiseymay]

YEAH BUT ONLY TO AMERICANS. ANCESTRY CLAIM TO BE WORLDWIDE, BUT ALL THEIR KZbin ''HELP'' VIDS ARE SET IN THE USA.

[@getprettyfit1997]

Thank you Crista. I enjoyed this video.

[@aquilaclark814]

Very good informational video..thx

[@rucksackzen]

The issue of what county your ancestor got married in is why I tend to generally search by name first (unless it’s a very common name) and then look at the card catalog/location second. Am I the only one who does this? Also you can narrow down a year by using the Census when it asks age at first marriage.

[@a.bourne6386]

( I can't find any marriage records of my father's marriage (not only to my mom), but two others that he had before her.) Rectifying this post: The county misspelled my mother's middle name. Always check for that. Can have a big impact on finding records. Good luck everyone.

[@normasalyer9868]

Richard Williams and Lydia Mae Reynolds in or around Bath Co ky 0:27

[@normasalyer9868]

Please help me in or around 1926 and 1928

[@normasalyer9868]

May be 192

[@TheChrisEMartin]

In a Uk context remember that 'civil registration' of marriages (ie with an official government document) only dates back to 1837. Prior to that it was religious marriage only. There are parish records back to the 16th Century, but these are only for people who are 'Church of England'/Anglican or Catholic. So remember also to check other types of religious records - most common in England were 'non-conformists' - methodists, baptists etc - and your relative may be of that denomination.

[@stuartraymond7743]

Use the term 'parish registers' please. There are lots of parish records that are not marriage records.

[@ericc7936]

how about Canada? is it possible to do a series on Canadian searches?

[@tonyafett5105]

I can’t find marriage information for a family member and it was just early 1970’s. I can find subsequent marriages for each of them after the divorce. It’s driving me crazy.

[@MissingOurMissingPod]

I’m having this exact issue! It was between 1951-1971 because I have a marriage record from Illinois in 1946. 2 daughters were born between 1946-1949. They were still married in the census of 1950. I find her name being changed in family obituaries by 1971 referring to her as Mrs. First/Middle name & the new last name. I cannot figure out the name of her next husband. It’s making me utterly nuts. She has a fairly unique first name & has lived in 3 states so it seems like it should be a no-brainer… maybe it is & I’ve somehow completely failed. Ha.

[@janeteskey1330]

In Canada if you know the church many church have a hand written marriage books in the church

[@danruby267]

What about when the record is available in FamilySearch but not in Ancestry? Iowa county marriage 1879 is simply not in Ancestry.

[@tanajenkinsful]

On Ancestry, what is Marriage index, it has names, what are the vol. and page on the top, is there a way to find that information?

[@SaltieCat]

Found some information regarding marriages in an ancestor's intestate probate file. He was married 3 times; divorced at least once (I'm descended from the marriage to the first wife), and when he died in the early 1870s, he left a minor son, whose guardianship had to be settled. The minor son ended up in another household. If there were minor children at the time of the husband or father's death, check the probate file, as women lacked some basic rights back then in regards to their children's custody. And the probate file did mention all 3 of his marriages. It was a "woohoo!" moment to see them all in one legal document, as the evidence for them had seemed a little sketchy prior to locating the file.

[@CristaCowan]

That's amazing!

[@matthewdonovan1107]

Video keeps sticking whenever I try to view it :(

[@ssp7549]

I cannot find my 2nd great aunt's marriage record. I know her married name, but I find no man with that last name in california on ancestry.com either. I also can't find her in any census records (in her adult years), which could've been another way to find out his full name.

[@bellao-smith4293]

Do you have any experience with Caribbean records? Or Genealogy?

[@karmagal78]

I’ll look at my granduncle’s divorce documents again, but, if I remember correctly, he and his 1st wife didn’t list their oldest daughter or the son that had passed away during divorce proceedings (he was born just before the proceedings and passed just after my granduncle had served his 1st wife with divorce papers.). The oldest daughter was, I believe, in the state run hospital by the time they were getting divorced (she would’ve been around 8 when her parents were starting their divorce proceedings).

[@karmagal78]

They did have 2 that were included in the documentation.

[@mistersmooth79]

I know that my 5th great-grandparents were married because she was mentioned as his wife on a couple of land deeds. Amherst County, VA doesn't have a marriage record, and the churches so far don't have a marriage record, bond, or bann. Where else can I look?

[@AncestryUS]

Depending on the time period and what record loss has happened in that place, it is possible that a marriage record does not exist. Are you trying to prove their marriage date or are you trying to find her name?

[@mistersmooth79]

I’m trying to prove her maiden name.

[@AncestryUS]

Have you identified all of their children? Look at the middle names of those children to see if any of them might give you a clue to her maiden name. Look for birth or baptismal records for those children to see if a mother's name is listed. Also, pay close attention to the witnesses. Could those be aunts/uncles from mother's side of the family? Look at the marriage and death records of those children to see if a mother's name is listed.

[@mariecarty222]

Crissta here it is 5 years after you posted this. I’m hoping my inquiry gets to you. My dilemma is I have found my Grandparents marriage record but I’m not sure that her maiden name is spelt correctly. I have compared it to many other documents and it’s spelled a few different ways. I really want to see exactly how SHE wrote it because all of her 6 children wrote it differently on their wedding, draft documents even her death certificate. One son did get severely injured during WWI and spent his remaining days in a VA hospital. I’m thinking him being young and unmarried that she must have had to sign papers on his behalf. I cannot go back on her until I know the exact spelling of her maiden name and where she was from in Ireland. THIS IS MY BRICK WALL! I would truly appreciate some direction in this matter. I’d give you my e-mail but obviously can’t do that here. Thank you in advance.

[@CristaCowan]

Hi Marie - One of the things that a lot of people don't realize when they start into family history research is that for most people in history, spelling didn't matter. I have a document where my great-grandfather wrote his name on the front and back side of the same piece of paper and he spelled his own name two different ways. So, don't get too hung up on the spelling. It is highly likely that you will find all sorts of spelling variations. To evaluate the records you already have - look at the marriage record. Is it an actual certificate or is it an index? Same with the other records. Is it spelled wildly different or is it just small spelling variations based on phonetics?

[@nerdyrt6563]

I want to point out that she wouldn't be signing her maiden name if the papers were for her son.

[@reneehaley985]

I Cannot find the simplest marriage record. My husband's parents were from Louisiana and said they went to Texas for the weekend and his uncle married them there (roughly 1959). No one knows any details and my father-in-law will not talk about it. It is not in any Texas or Louisiana records. They were protestant. Any suggestions?

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Renee - Have you searched each of these Texas marriage record databases? www.ancestry.com/search/collections/catalog/?title=texas&sort=record-count&category=124_34

[@MissingOurMissingPod]

This is probably unhelpful, but if you’ve not found it, do you think there could be some kind of family secret there? I mean… it seems a bit odd to not talk about a marriage of all things. You say his uncle married them… was it done legally? Could they have had different names or spellings? Could they have even been first cousins? I say that because it may make sense in terms of why he won’t talk about it. Just a thought. I’m struggling with finding a second marriage record. I’d assume it has to exist because it’s recent (similar time frame) but I’ve had no luck. I hope you’ve found them.

[@leondraw1766]

Unfortunately for me the county I was married and divorced in are still living in the 19th century technology wise so I can't even find my own records from the 1980's.

[@deborahholmes5137]

Hi Christa, I'm from england when I watch your videos you talk about usa only how do I find information for england.?

[@CristaCowan]

The principles are the same. Ancestry has indexes to the UK General Register Office birth, marriage, and death records. Ancestry also has millions of UK parish register entries of christenings, marriages, and burials. Are you familiar with how to use the Ancestry Card Catalog? (Find it under the SEARCH menu on Ancestry.) DO a search for the county in England where your family is from to see what is available.

[@deborahholmes5137]

@@CristaCowan hi Christa I been trying to find a record for my 3rd great grandfather, I have his death certificate and it says in 1865 he was found hanging in a stonehouse on Deal kent beach in England. It does not say where hes buried although he is probably in a paupers grave because I know this from a newspaper article for the inquest after his death but I dont know where How would I find this information? Without paying anymore subscriptions.on other deceased sites. Kind regards Deborah Holmes

[@CristaCowan]

@@deborahholmes5137 It sounds like you already know quite a bit of information. I'm surprised that neither his death certificate nor the newspaper article list where he is buried. Have you tried searching the newspaper for additional articles, including a possible notation of a funeral and/or burial service?

[@chetmattern8942]

I paid for them to find information for me and to no avail. Could't even find my three siblings. Now they want more money because they have refined their system. Sucks

[@AncestryUS]

Ancestry is a do-it-yourself service that provides billions of historical records to allow you to trace your ancestry. Most states and countries have privacy laws in place that do not allow us to put records online for living people.

[@IftheShewfits]

Them? Who??

[@shokhpakhi419]

it is.......

[@shokhpakhi419]

search backgrounds Criminal Records, Marriage/Divorce Records, Legal Judgments, Address Records, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, Relative Records, Court Records, Property Records, Photos, Social Profiles and much more! 8c94d88fqgfw9s9d8643o2l5cd.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=4A

[@mariafarnum2997]

I will like to find my grandmother Lillian Griffin birth certificate st Lucy barbados

[@AncestryUS]

Hi Maria, thank you for taking the time to respond! We have millions of records to explore on Ancestry! It is extremely likely that you will find some information that is of interest, if you would like to sign up for free, you can browse our records and if you see something you like, you can then purchase a subscription to obtain the information within the record!

[@jeanettedowell2720]

Can't find my marriage record from 2014

[@CristaCowan]

Every state has their own laws regarding when records become publicly available. So, depending on where you got married, you may need to contact the state vital records office to get a copy of the record.

[@sexydudeuk2172]

My family is full of skeletons. I couldnt find my great grandparent's marraige record online. And the reason for that is because they never married! My great grandfather was already married by the time he met my great grandfather and hence couldnt marry her as he never divorced his wife and hence my great grandparents had all their children born out of wedlock which was bewteen the early 1930s to mid 1940s! They kept that a secret until they died as well so no one in the family found out till afterwards

[@soniafink4015]

I can’t even find my marriage to my husband in 2004. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@FortheBudgies]

probably because it is too recent and not public to protect your privacy

[@soniafink4015]

@@FortheBudgies do you know when they start showing up?

[@MissingOurMissingPod]

It may also depend on the state(?) But yeah, I’d think it’s too early for that to show up. I can’t find them for my fiancé’s siblings & one married in 2007 and the other a couple years later.

[@thedeterminedgenealogist3835]

marriage death I like that...just kidding great info.

[@melindacolettehawkins-phil7219]

Enjoy. I HAVN'T BEEN ACTIVE. JUST STILL FEELING SICKLY.

[@AncestryUS]

Sorry you haven't been feeling well, Melinda. Get better soon.

[@melindacolettehawkins-phil7219]

@@AncestryUS Fighting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. On 5 Antibiotics and they are hard on me. Sorry, I miss everyone and all the new info. Getting on the computer is difficult right now.

[@kaylaw4773]

ancestry doesnt have this... next

[@joangass2874]

I don't find this site helpful at all