Category: Marriage Records

Marriage Records Ministers Returns

MInister’s Returns

James L. Douthat

Frequently when you are researching some of the older marriages, you find that these are labeled Minister’s Returns. This may cause some confusion as to the fact if this is a “proper” record of that marriage. The short answer is “Yes”. The background as to why this is a correct record, one has to understand the reason behind the record itself. Minister Returns are found primarily in the older records of those states called commonwealths instead of states. There are only a few of the states that go by this…

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Genealogy Marriage Records

I Pronounce You …

James L. Douthat

In our genealogical research, the marriage record is one of the most sought after items for the collection on our ancestors. Few realize that the recording of marriages has changed through the years. In the late 1600s in Virginia, the record consisted of just the name of the groom. The bride was not recorded, nor the date of the marriage itself. In later years, the Virginia marriage records were some of the most sought after because of all the information included in them. In the late 1800s, these records included…

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Bible Records Biographies Church Records Court Records Marriage Records Wills

Finding Great-Grandma

James L. Douthat

Who was great-grandma?? This is a very frequently asked question since most of the time only her given name is known. We find this from the census beginning in the 1850 forward. We also find the name on deeds when the property is sold as is stated, “John Smith and his wife Alice sell to Robert Black….”. But the question remains, what was Alice’s last name? I’m sorry to say, there is no single silver bullet that takes us to the answer, but following are some clues to help up…

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