Author: Erin Bradford, Reference Librarian
Vital records are important to research, but they are not always easy to find. It is necessary to know the county where the person was married. Records can be found in different locations depending on when the marriage took place. Below are some guidelines to help navigate these records.
Marriages Before 1868
Before 1868, it was not required for couples to apply for a marriage record. Instead, they could be married by their church using marriage banns, a practice left over from England. This is especially true from the 1600s-early 1800s. Banns were notices posted on church doors announcing their intent to marry. If there were no objections, then the marriage proceeded.
The first law regarding marriages in North Carolina was passed in April 1741. Chapter 1 states the following: “That every Clergyman of the Church of England. or … any lawful Magistrate, within this Government, shall, and they are hereby directed, to join together in the Holy Estate of Matrimony, such Persons who may lawfully enter into such a Relation... .” This appears in volume 23, page 158 of the Colonial and State Records of North Carolina.
Couples who went to the county to be married had what was called a marriage bond from 1741-1868. These bonds list the groom, bride, date of the bond, bondsman, witness, and county. These are all located at the State Archives of North Carolina. The State Archives created a microfiche index of all existing marriage bonds, with the exception of Granville County. At the time the fiche was created, the Archives did not have the marriage bonds for Granville County. Since then, an index was published for Granville County. The Archives created a guide to marriage bonds with further information.
It’s important to note that only a small percentage of marriages were actually recorded in marriage bonds and those marriages listed in the marriage bond indexes are only for the surviving marriage bonds. Some records have not survived due to courthouse fires. If there is no surviving record of the marriage, suitable substitutes may include family Bibles, church records, or private manuscript papers. See our website for a full listing of possible substitutes for missing marriage bonds.
Marriages After 1868
In 1868, the state no longer used marriage bonds. The legislature required all marriages to be recorded with the county. Chapter 5, section 1 of the 1868 Session Laws of North Carolina, page 7, is An Act in Relation to Marriage Licenses, which states in part: “...the duty of issuing marriage licenses in each County respectively, and the fees allowed by law for performance of said duty, shall appertain to the Register of Deeds.” This is found in the 1868 Public Session Laws.
The state from 1868 through now has used marriage licenses as well as marriage registers. Often, the information in a register is the same as the license. The information found in these records varied over time. Until the early 1900s, many of these records only include bride and groom names and ages, sometimes their normal residence. In the 1900s, parents’ names began to be listed and sometimes whether they were still living or deceased. These are great resources when trying to prove parents.
Where to Find the records
Records for marriages before 1868 are located at the State Archives of North Carolina. For marriages after 1868, the record may be located in different places. The State Archives has microfilm marriage licenses and marriage records, but not usually the original record. There are some exceptions. There is a Guide to County Records that will show you what the Archives has for each county. If they only have microfilm copies for the year(s) you are looking for, check that county’s Register of Deeds office. If the marriage took place after 1868, it is a good idea to check with that county’s Register of Deeds office. In some cases, they may have transferred the record to the North Carolina Vital Records department; however, it’s always best to check with the Register of Deeds first.