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Marriage Records
Colonial Marriage Records
From 1640 to 1776 the General Assembly enacted over a dozen laws regulating
marriages and the recording of them. These acts concerned the freedom of
the individual to contract marriage, the publication of intention to wed,
and the identity of the person performing the ceremony. Also governed by
law were the liturgy used in the ceremony, race and relationship of the
parties, and recording of the ceremony.
Beginning in 1640 the province of Maryland required the bride
and groom to take an oath before the county court that they were not apprenticed
or under the governance of a parent or guardian. A 1664 law prohibited
marriage between white women and black men. This act remained in effect
for over 300 years, finally being repealed in 1967.
Beginning in 1666 the traditional marriage vows of the Anglican
church were required by law. This law prescribed proper notice of intention
to wed before the ceremony could occur. The county court issued certificates
stating that the required notice had been heard or posted, usually three
weeks before the wedding. The Governor and Council could make special dispensation
rescinding the waiting period.
The first act for the recording of births, marriages, and burials
passed in 1650 (revised in 1654, 1658, 1678, and 1692). County clerks were
required to record these events in registers. The 1678 act exempted blacks,
Indians, and mulattos, unless after 1692 their mothers were white women.
Only a few records, available at the Archives, are extant today:
-
CHARLES COUNTY COURT (Births, Deaths and Marriages) 1654-1706 [MSA C653,
Microfilm]
-
KENT COUNTY COURT (Proceedings) 1675-1707 [MSA C1091]
-
KENT COUNTY COURT (Land Records) 1675-1707 [MSA C1068,
Microfilm]
-
SOMERSET COUNTY COURT (Births, Deaths, and Marriages) 1649-1720 [MSA
C1739,
Microfilm]
-
TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Births, Deaths, and Marriages) 1657-1691 [MSA C1840,
Microfilm]
A 1695 law, revised in 1696, transferred the recording of vital records
to the vestries of the Protestant Episcopal parishes in the colony. The
extant parish registers, available at the Archives, constitute the official
marriage records during most of the colonial period. See the Maryland
Religious Records Project for a list of the church records held at
the Archives.
The following are card indices which refer to records that imply marriage.
Dates refer to the record, not the marriage.
MARYLAND INDEXES (Maryland Marriage References) var. d. Index
123 [MSA S1527]
MARYLAND INDEXES (Marriage References, Hodges Index), 1674-1851. Index
5 [MSA S1396]
MARYLAND INDEXES (Marriage References, Magruders Index), var. d. Index
99 [MSA S1487]
The following are card indices to marriage records of the coloinal period.
MARYLAND INDEXES (Bible and Tombstone Records, Index) var.
d. Refers to printed or manuscript records. Index 32 [MSA S1406]
MARYLAND INDEXES (Church Records, Marriage Index), 1686-1958, various
dates for 15 churches. Index 27 [MSA S1400]
MARYLAND INDEXES (Marriage Licenses and Records, Index), 1649-1720;
1774-1886, incomplete. Index 6 [MSA S1397]
Return to Top of Page
Marriage Licenses
The General Assembly in 1777 required marriage licenses to be obtained
from the clerk of the county court. The act defined kindred relationships
forbidden to marry, stipulated a licensing fee (most of which went to the
state), and required marriage by Christian clergy. Civil marriages were
not permitted until 1963. As specified by the law ministers returned lists
of those married to the Treasurer of the Western Shore or Treasurer of
the Eastern Shore. Many of these returns, 1777-1804, available in MARYLAND
STATE PAPERS (Scharf Collection) [MSA S1005],
are indexed in Robert Barnes' Maryland Marriages (LIBRARY, REF A-1-3).
The 1777 law applied only to the marriage of white citizens. Not until
1867 did the marriage laws apply to blacks. In addition, the publication
of banns on three Sundays in the county where the female resided could
be used in lieu of a license. Quakers could marry without a license in
accordance with their practices. Licenses generally are listed chronologically
in record books, and sometimes include a sequential number assigned by
the clerk. The date of the license, names of the two parties, and sometimes
the minister's name are recorded. No other information is given, and the
license does not prove a marriage occurred. Often the record contains an
accounting of the fees paid. The Directory of Maryland Ministers
by Edna Agatha Kanely (LIBRARY, REF A-5-2) can be used to determine the
church or parish associated with the minister's name on the license. Many
of the license records have been abstracted and published.
The Archives has marriage licenses in the original and/or on microfilm
for the jurisdictions named below. There may also be some recently
tranferred records which have not yet been accessioned.
-
ALLEGANY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1865 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
ALLEGANY COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1791-1851 [MSA Microfilm]
-
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
C114,
Microfilm]
-
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1899-1964 [MSA
T2647]
-
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1777-1851 [MSA
C113,
Microfilm]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1885 [MSA
C213,]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Licenses) 1885-1886 [MSA
T989]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1865 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1873-1885 [MSA C377]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1777-1851 [MSA C376,
Microfilm]
-
CALVERT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1812-1882 [MSA T1854]
-
CALVERT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1867-1886 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CAROLINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1852-1886 [MSA C535]
-
CAROLINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1852-1865 [MSA Microfilm]
-
CAROLINE COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1774-1851 [MSA C534,
Microfilm]
-
CARROLL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CARROLL COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1837-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
C633,
Microfilm]
-
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1777-1851 [MSA
C632,
Microfilm]
-
DORCHESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA C718]
-
DORCHESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1880 [MSA Microfilm]
-
DORCHESTER COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1780-1841 [MSA
C717,
Microfilm]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA C826]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1779-1851 [MSA
C825]
-
HARFORD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
HARFORD COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1782-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
HOWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
C1000]
-
HOWARD DISTRICT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1840-1851 [MSA
C999]
-
HOWARD DISTRICT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1840-1850 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
KENT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
C1082]
-
KENT COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1796-1851 [MSA C1081]
-
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1867-1899 [MSA T2490]
-
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1798-1839 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA
C1261]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1884 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1777-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1887-1890 [MSA
C1450]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1817-1906 [MSA
T1702]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1871 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1817-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
SOMERSET COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA Microfilm]
-
SOMERSET COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1796-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
ST. MARY'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriages Licenses) 1851-1863 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
ST. MARY'S COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1794-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
TALBOT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1867 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1794-1839 [MSA
C1890]
-
TALBOT COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1794-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1886 [MSA C1966,
Microfilm]
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WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1799-1851 [MSA
C1965,
Microfilm]
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WORCESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1851-1890 [MSA C2028]
-
WORCESTER COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses) 1795-1851 [MSA
C2027]
The Maryland State Archives holds indices to some of the records listed
below:
(Marriage Licenses, BA, Male Index)
Maryland Indexes, 1777-1851, Indexes 7-15. [MSA S1398]
(Marriage Licenses, BA, Female Index)
Maryland Indexes, 1777-1851, Indexes 16-26. [MSA S1399]
(Marriage Licenses, Female Index)
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses, Female Index) 1851-1865
[MSA Microfilm]
FREDERICK COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses, Female Index) 1778-1851
[MSA Microfilm]
(Marriage Licenses, Male Index)
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Licenses, Male Index) 1851-1865
[MSA Microfilm]
FREDERICK COUNTY COURT (Marriage Licenses, Male Index) 1778-1851 [MSA
Microfilm]
(Marriage Licenses, Index)
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1886 [MSA C378,
Microfilm]
CARROLL COUNTY COURT 1837-1851 [MSA Microfilm]
CARROLL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1867 [MSA Microfilm]
FREDERICK COUNTY COURT 1778-1851 [MSA C827]
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1865 [MSA C828]
KENT COUNTY COURT 1796-1851 [MSA C1083]
KENT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1886 [MSA C1084]
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1919 [MSA C1968]
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1851-1886 [MSA Microfilm]
WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT 1799-1851 [MSA C1967,
Microfilm]
(Marriage Index, Male)
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS 1851-1885 [MSA C212,
Microfilm]
Return to Top of Page
Marriage Records
In 1865 Maryland required the recording of births, deaths, and marriages
at the county level, with further reporting to the Secretary of the Senate.
The secretary furnished standardized marriage record books to the court
clerks. Persons officiating at marriages were required to return a copy
of the license to the appropriate court clerk who would record the marriage
date in the marriage record. Most clerks continued to maintain separate
license books until 1886 when record keeping was again revised. A few clerks
retained use of license books even later than that. The marriage records
created under the 1865 law contain the date of the license; age, race,
residence, occupation, and marital status of the bride and groom; date
and place of marriage; and name, title, and residence of the minister.
Records after 1886 exclude the minister's title and residence. Entries
usually are arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the male's surname
and then chronologically.
A duplicate set of records for several jurisdictions exists because
the clerks were required to file copies with the Secretary of the Senate.
Compliance was poor and ceased completely after 1867. An 1882 law eliminated
the state filing until 1914 when an act provided that clerks file marriage
and divorce information with the Bureau of Vital Records. The 1865 law
did not require everyone to be licensed. As before, only whites were subject
to the law. Specific provisions for blacks were enacted in 1867 and allowed
them to register proof of marriage prior to that date with the court clerks.
Quakers and those having banns announced in a church remained exempt from
the license law.
The Archives has marriage records in the original and/or on microfilm
for the jurisdictions named below. There may also be some recently
tranferred records which have not yet been accessioned.
-
ALLEGANY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1914 [MSA Microfilm]
-
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1904 [MSA C115]
-
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1905-1933 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Record) 1865-1885 [MSA
C214]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Record) 1886- 1919 [MSA
T991]
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Record) 1865- 1919 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1915 [MSA
C379]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1896-1956 [MSA T1234]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1945 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CALVERT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1882-1958 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CAROLINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1886-1928 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CARROLL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1914 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1886-1928 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CHARLES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1886 [MSA T2167]
-
CHARLES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1921 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
DORCHESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1886-1941 [MSA Microfilm]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1888 [MSA
C829]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1993 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1941-1975 [MSA T2585]
-
GARRETT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1873-1957 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
HOWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1916 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
KENT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1888 [MSA
C1085]
-
KENT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1952 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1939-1980 [MSA T1928]
-
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1993- [MSA CM713]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865- 1867 [MSA
C1262]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1886-1923 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1866-1927 [MSA T1703]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1915 [MSA Microfilm]
-
SOMERSET COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1866-1963 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
ST. MARY'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1960 [MSA Microfilm]
-
TALBOT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1920 [MSA Microfilm]
-
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1887 [MSA C1969]
-
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1865-1915 [MSA Microfilm]
-
WICOMICO COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1868-1981 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
WORCESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage Record) 1866-1917 [MSA
Microfilm]
The Maryland State Archives holds indices to some of the records listed
above:
(Marriage Index, Male)
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS 1851-1885 [MSA C212,
Microfilm]
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS 1886-1914 [MSA T2426]
(Marriage Record, Index)
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1885-1890 [MSA C380]
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1865-1890 [MSA C830]
SOMERSET COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1866-1962 [MSA Microfilm]
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1886-1960 [MSA Microfilm]
(Marriage Record, Female Index)
ALLEGANY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1885-1900 [MSA Microfilm]
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1928-1935 [MSA Microfilm]
(Marriage Record, Male Index)
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT 1928-1977 [MSA Microfilm]
Return to Top of Page
Marriage License Applications
An 1886 law required signed applications for marriage licenses. It also
restricted marriage to males over age twenty one and females over sixteen,
later changed to twenty one and eighteen and then eighteen and sixteen.
After 1939 pregnant females, and after 1949 putative fathers over age sixteen,
could obtain licenses without parental consent. In 1937 a waiting period
of two days was added. The law specified that marriage application records
contain name, residence, age, race, occupation, and marital status of each
party; date of the application, sometimes date of the license and marriage;
consent of the parents or guardians of minors; and signature of the applicant.
For some unknown reason the law was not applied in Baltimore City where
the records include only the names of the parties, date of application,
and signature of the applicant, all of which is written in pencil. Entries
in the county and city records are arranged chronologically by date of
application.
The Archives has marriage license applications in the original and/or
on microfilm for the jurisdictions named below. There may also be some
recently
tranferred records which have not yet been accessioned.
-
BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1935
[MSA T499]
-
BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1896
[MSA C273]
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CALVERT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1953
[MSA Microfilm]
-
CECIL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1978-1979 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CHARLES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1935
[MSA T2165]
-
DORCHESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1951
[MSA T2319]
-
FREDERICK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1938-1941
[MSA T170]
-
HOWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1919 [MSA
C955]
-
MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1962
[MSA T944]
-
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1975
[MSA T757]
-
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1908-1926
[MSA T1701]
-
SOMERSET COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1938
[MSA C1788]
-
ST. MARY'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1976
[MSA C1522]
-
TALBOT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1897-1965 [MSA
T1633]
-
WORCESTER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriage License Applications) 1886-1900
[MSA C1997]
Return to Top of Page
Marriages by Banns
From the time marriage licenses were first required in 1777, Maryland
allowed individuals to marry without a license if public notice was given
at a church on three Sundays prior to the wedding, a process known as publication
of banns. An 1890 law provided for the recordation of these marriages by
requiring the ministers to file a certificate with the court clerk who
would record the information. The records include the date and place of
marriage, names of the parties and minister, and name of the church. Entries
are arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the male's surname and
then chronologically. Marriages by banns prior to 1890 can be found only
in church records.
The provisions for marriage by banns were repealed in 1941 and replaced
with a requirement that all individuals obtain licenses. The Archives has
marriages by banns in the original and/or on microfilm for the following
jurisdictions:
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BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriages by Banns) 1890- 1941 [MSA
Microfilm]
-
CHARLES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriages by Banns) 1905-1940 [MSA T2168]
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CHARLES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT (Marriages by Banns) 1905-1941 [MSA Microfilm]
Return to Top of Page
Marriage Certificates
In 1910 the General Assembly created the Bureau of Vital Statistics
as an agency under the State Department of Health (Chapter 560, Laws of
1910). The Bureau of Vital Statistics was responsible for supervising the
registration of births and deaths in Maryland. The Bureau became responsible
for marriages in 1914 with the passage of a new law: "It shall be the duty
of the Clerk of the Court in Baltimore City and in the several Counties
of the State of Maryland to transmit to the Bureau of Vital Statistics
of the State Department of Health . . . a report of each marriage that
has been reported to them." (Chapter 745, Laws of 1914). The purpose of
the law was to ensure against the loss or destruction of the records filed
at the circuit courts.
From 1914 to 1940 the Bureau of Vital Statistics maintained one series
of marriage certificates for the counties and another series for Baltimore
City. In 1941, the Bureau began filing the Baltimore City certificates
with the county certificates, creating a single series of records. Unfortunately
for researchers, the Bureau did not begin indexing the certificates until
1951 when the General Assembly authorized them to provide certified copies
of marriages performed after June 1, 1951 (Chapter 76, Laws of 1951). Also
in 1951, the Bureau was given its current name of the Division of Vital
Records.
Baltimore City 1914-1940, series no.
T317
During the years 1914 to 1940, the Bureau of Vital Statistics arranged
the Baltimore City certificates chronologically by year and month. Within
each month they are sometimes alphabetical by the groom's name and sometimes
in no particular order at all. Because there is no index, one must
know the month, year, and groom's name to find a certificate.
Each certificate
provides the names, ages, birthplaces, races, occupations and residences
of the couple, the date of the license, the date and location of the marriage,
and the name of the minister. The certificates also indicate whether there
was a prior marriage and the names of the consenting parents, or guardians,
if one of the parties was a minor. If neither the bride nor the groom was
a minor, the parents are not listed. This series is called DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS (Marriage Certificates,
BC) MSA T317.
Counties 1914-1930, series no. SM184,
Microfilm
There are two series of county marriage certificates for the years
1914 to 1930. The first is called DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS (Marriage Certificate List) MSA S1498,
Microfilm.
This series is an incomplete set of certificates arranged in soundex
order by the groom's name. The more complete series is DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Marriage Certificates, Counties, Female)
MSA
Microfilm.
The certificates are arranged in soundex
order by the name of the bride. The records list the names, ages, races,
residences, occupations, and birthplaces of the couple, the date of the
license, the date and place of the marriage, and the name of the minister.
The certificates also indicate whether there were any prior marriages and
list consenting parents or guardians, if one of the parties was a minor.
Counties 1931-1940, series no. T318
Between the years 1931 and 1940 the the Bureau of Vital Statistics
arranged the county marriage certificates in soundex
order by the name of the groom. The certificates give the names, ages,
races, birthplaces, occupations and residences of the couple, the date
of the license, the date and place of the marriage, and the name of the
minister. The certificates also indicate whether there were any prior marriages
and list consenting parents or guardians, if one of the parties was a minor.
This series is called DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, DIVISION
OF VITAL RECORDS (Marriage Certificates, Counties) MSA T318.
Counties and Baltimore City 1941-1987,
series no. T315
Beginning in 1941, the Bureau of Vital Statistics maintained both city
and county marriages as a single series of records. The series is called
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS (Marriage
Certificates) MSA T315.
1941-1951
For the years 1941 to June 1951, the certificates are arranged chronologically
by year and month. Within each month they are arranged alphabetically by
jurisdiction and then alphabetically by the groom's name. The certificates
list the names, ages, races, birthplaces, and residences of the couple,
the date of the license, the date and place of the marriage, and the name
of the minister. They do not list the names of parents or guardians unless
one of the parties was a minor. Unfortunately, there are no indexes
for these years. One must know the year, month, county and groom's
name to find a certificate.
1951-1972
In June 1951, when the General Assembly authorized the Division of
Vital Records to provide certified copies of marriage records, the Division
began to file the certificates numerically by certificate number. In order
to access the certificates, the agency created two indexes, one by bride
and one by groom. Since the groom index contains some missing or torn pages,
the bride index is more complete. The Archives has copies of the indexes
on microfilm:
(Marriage Certificates, Female Index)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS 1951-1968
[MSA Microfilm]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS 1968-1972
[MSA Microfilm]
(Marriage Certificates, Male Index)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS 1951-1968
[MSA Microfilm]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS 1968-1972
[MSA Microfilm]
The certificates contain the names, ages, races, birthplaces, residences
and marital status of the couple, the date of the license, the date and
place of the marriage, the name of the minister, and the church or office
where the marriage was performed. These certificates no longer include
the names of consenting parents or guardians of minors.
1973-1997
In 1973, the Division of Vital Records began indexing the marriage certificates electronically, although the certificates continued to be arranged numerically by certificate number. The State Archives has a paper copy of the index to marriages for 1951 to 1989, but does not have access to the marriage database which covers 1973 to the present. Please note that the paper index, while available for research, has been used extensively and is damaged; some entries are not readable. In these cases, or for marriages that occurred after 1989 the certificate number must be obtained from the Division of Vital Records.
The Archives does hold the marriage certificates through 1997. The certificates contain the same information as described for the years 1951 to 1972, except that they omit the information on race.
1997-present
For marriage certificates after 1997, please contact the circuit
court in the county where the marriage occurred.
Return to Top of Page
Requesting Marriage Research
In order to find a marriage that occurred within the past few years, you
must contact the circuit
court of the jurisdiction where you think it took place.
For research on marriage records other than current marriage certificates,
please send your request through the mail to the Maryland State Archives,
350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Orders can also be placed by emailing ref@mdsa.net. Email orders must be placed using a credit card, either Visa, Mastercard or Discover. The Archives does not accept American Express. See "Placing Research and Copy Orders with the Maryland State Archives for more information and a link to the fee schedule.
When requesting a marriage search, please provide the full names of
the bride and groom, the county where the marriage took place, and the
date. Please note that the names of parents are not included in any of
these civil marriage records.
The Archives also has church marriage records. Please provide the full names of the bride and groom, county, denomination, church name and date when requesting a search of church registers. A few of the church marriage registers include the names of parents. Please
keep in mind that the Archives does not have the records of all churches
in Maryland.
See also the Maryland State Archives
Fee Schedule.
Questions regarding Archives collections and services should be directed
to the Reference Services Department at:
ref@mdsa.net
Go to Reference Services homepage.
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