Alabama County Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records
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| This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org. | |
| Alabama, United States | |
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| Flag of Alabama | |
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| Location of Alabama | |
| Record Description | |
| Record Type | Marriages |
| Collection years | 1809-1950 |
| FamilySearch Resources | |
| Related Websites | |
| Archive | |
| Various county probate courts | |
Contents
What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]
The collection consists of an index and images of marriage records created by Alabama counties for the years 1809 to 1950. The records are arranged by county, volume and date. Currently this collection is partially indexed; additional records will be added as they are completed. Be aware that some images in this collection are restricted. The earliest marriage bonds and licenses were usually handwritten on loose papers that were later bound into lettered volumes. Some marriage records had multiple entries on each page, while others had single records per page. Marriages were recorded by the clerk of the district court for each county from the time the county was formed. Persons desiring to marry obtained a license that they presented to the minister or other person authorized to marry, such as a justice of the peace. Once the marriage was performed, the officiator sent a return to the clerk confirming that the marriage had occurred. Civil marriage records were created to legalize marital relationships and to protect the interests of the wife and other heirs to legal claims on property. The marriage date, place, residence of the bride and groom, and occupations are relatively reliable. Other information, such as age or birthplace, is dependent on the knowledge, memory, and accuracy of the informants, usually the bride and groom.
Image Visibility[edit | edit source]
Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images.
For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.
What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]
The following information may be found in these records:
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Early Marriage
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Later Marriage
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Many marriages recorded in the South, are separated by race in volumes, books, or registers. Be sure to check to determine if you have the right set of marriage records. |
Collection Content[edit | edit source]
Sample Images[edit | edit source]
1870 Marriage record
1877 Marriage License
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Coverage Table[edit | edit source]
The coverage table shows the places and time periods covered in the indexed records in this collection. Most of the records in the collection are from the time periods listed in the table; however, the collection may have a few records from before or after the time period.
| County | Years Covered in Index |
|---|---|
| Baldwin | 1810, 1812, 1814-1825, 1827-1836, 1841, 1845-1936, 1958 |
| Barbour | 1807-1809, 1816-1818, 1823-1826, 1828-1829, 1832-1834, 1836, 1838-1941, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1959, 1971, 1985, 1988, 1995 |
| Bibb | 1803, 1805, 1810, 1812-1945, 1950-1953, 1957, 1959-1960, 1963-1965, 1968, 1970-1973, 1977, 1979-1981, 1988, 1992-1995, 1997 |
| Bullock | 1835, 1857, 1860, 1867-1893, 1899, 1916, 1929-1959, 1968-1969, 1973, 1981-1982, 1987 |
| Chilton | 1822, 1831, 1869-1883, 1888, 1890-1938, 1942-1945, 1956-1957, 1997 |
| Cleburne | 1834, 1837, 1867-1893, 1898, 1926, 1936-1954, 1960 |
| Crenshaw | 1868-1890, 1931-1958 |
| Cullman | 1844-1845, 1918, 1928-1951, 1987 |
| Dallas | 1818-1826, 1829-1832, 1835-1895, 1902-1930, 1938, 1965 |
| Jefferson | 1829, 1836, 1848, 1921, 1927-1951, 1968 |
| Madison | 1818-1831, 1853-1885, 1890-1895, 1919-1951, 1957, 1980, 1985 |
| Mobile | 1802, 1806, 1809, 1812-1828, 1833-1834, 1840-1842, 1844, 1849, 1852-1856, 1858-1930, 1934, 1936-1943, 1946-1951, 1953-1957, 1964-1968, 1970, 1972, 1981 |
| Morgan | 1821-1952, 1962, 1987, 1991 |
| Perry | 1803, 1814-1815, 1818-1931, 1935, 1943, 1945, 1948, 1973-1974, 1987, 2010 |
| Pike | 1805, 1830-1859, 1885, 1888-1894, 1896-1910 |
| St. Clair | 1833-1835, 1898-1938, 1945, 1963, 1982 |
For additional coverage tables for this collection, see the wiki article Alabama County Marriages Coverage Table - FamilySearch Historical Records.
Digital Folder Number List[edit | edit source]
This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at Alabama, County Marriages Digital Folder Number List.
How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]
Before searching the collection, it is helpful to know:
- The name of the individual
- The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse
Search the Index[edit | edit source]
Search by name on the Collection Details Page.- Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
- Click Search to show possible matches
View the Images[edit | edit source]
To view images in this collection:- Look at the Alabama, County Marriages Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
- Go to the Browse Page
- Select the Film number to view the images
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More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at Alabama, County Marriages, 1809-1950. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images. |
How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.
What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]
I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Add any new information to your records
- Use the age to calculate a birth date and to find other records such as birth, christening, census, land or death records
- Use the information to find additional family members. Witnesses or bondsmen were usually relatives
- Search for the family in county records where they married
I Can’t Find the Person Who I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]
- Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
- Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
- If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
- Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
Record Finder[edit | edit source]
Consult the Alabama Record Finder to find other records
Known Issues[edit | edit source]
Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.
Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
| Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection. |
| Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information. |
| Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen. |
How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?[edit | edit source]
| We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Historical Records/Guidelines for Articles. |
