Marriage bonds, affidavits,
licenses, and certificates were kept by each county beginning about 1890
or when the county was created. Many marriages in the territorial era
were not recorded, and some were recorded in county courthouses in
Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas. Write to the appropriate county for
information, marriage records are usually found in office of the clerk
of the court.
Marriage records in the last
century or so usually provide the name of the bride and groom, their
ages, the name of the father or both parents of the bride and groom, and
very often, occupations. Marriage records also provide the exact place
of the marriage, an important part of your family history. The addresses
of the bride and groom before their marriage may be provided. Some
marriage records even name the place of birth of both the bride and
groom.
If you cannot find the marriage in
the county you expected, always check the adjacent counties. Usually our
ancestors did not travel to the farthest point to get married; they
wanted the closest place possible, if not married by the preacher in the
home of the bride or local church.
For example, Greer County,
Oklahoma was claimed by Texas from 1860 to 1896. From 1881 until the
county was organized in 1886, the area was attached to Wheeler County,
Texas. Mobeetie was the county seat at the time. In 1885 the trip to the
courthouse for Mangum residents was 100 miles by wagon, buggy or
horseback.
You should also be aware of the
roads around where your ancestors lived. The town or village where they
lived is very important, was it easier to go to the county seat of their
actual county or was there a town closer, even though it might be in
another county.
Pretty sure of location but can't
find marriage around estimated date? Sometimes getting the crops planted
or harvested was more important than getting off to the nearest
courthouse. Or they waited for the traveling preacher to come around -
and preacher took the long way.
Oklahoma is one of several states
that recognize Common-Law marriages where intent to a commitment is
binding.
A marriage record is just one of several ways to find a
maiden name of a married woman. Ten sources that may offer clues to the
woman's maiden name...
1. Woman's birth certificate if
born within last 100 years.
Oklahoma Vital Records
2. All children's death certificates, living into the 20th century.
3. Copy of her obituary. Check to see if father or brother survived her;
one out of five obituaries give clear indication of
her maiden name.
4. Check children's marriage certifcates.
5. Newspaper account of marriage.
7. Divorce papers
8. County Histories
9. Widow's Military Pension
10. Wills and Probate Records
County Courthouses in Oklahoma
Links About Marriage
Common Law Marriage in Oklahoma
Common-Law
Demystified
Consumer Law: Marriage
Still looking? Try these.
They may have your lucky lookup.
Oklahoma Look-Ups
Random
Acts of Genealogical Kindness: Oklahoma
Genealogy
Lookup Forum: Oklahoma
Books
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