Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of a name index and images of Massachusetts statewide marriage registers. It covers the years 1841 to 1915. The marriage registers are in numbered volumes arranged by year then by individual town. Early marriage records were handwritten; later they were typed on printed forms with multiple entries on each page.

Beginning in 1841, in accordance with a new law, municipal clerks sent in the registrations they had collected to the state once a year. As a result, after that date records were available at the town and state levels. Boston did not comply with the law until about 1848. Population coverage is near 100% for later years. Coverage is not as complete for some earlier years. Marriage records were recorded to document marriages and property ownership. The marriage date, place, residence of bride and groom and occupation are fairly reliable. Other information such as age or birth place is dependent on the memory and reliability of the informant.

The following are included in this collection:
 * Massachusetts State Archives. Marriage Records. Digital images of originals housed at the Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts
 * Massachusetts. Secretary of State. Marriage register, 1901-1905. Digital images of originals housed at the Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts
 * Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Marriages, 1841-1895. Digital images of originals housed at the Massachusetts Division of Vital Statistics, Boston, Massachusetts
 * Massachusetts. Various Town Clerks. Marriage Records. Digital images of originals housed at the Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, Massachusetts

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person at the time of marriage
 * The date of the marriage
 * The place where the marriage occurred

How Do I Analyze the Results?
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.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Massachusetts Guided Research
 * Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Massachusetts Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Births, marriages (1841-1895), and deaths (1841-1899)
 * Massachusetts vital records, 1896-1897, 1899-1900
 * Register of births, marriages, deaths, 1901-1905
 * Massachusetts birth, marriage, death records, 1906-1910, from town clerks
 * Massachusetts vital records deaths, births, marriages, 1911-1915
 * Massachusetts, vital records (1916-1920)

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924
 * Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920
 * Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
 * Massachusetts Town Records, ca. 1638-1961

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Guide to the public vital records of Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts : Historical Records Survey, 1942
 * Carroll D. Wright. Report on the custody and condition of the public records of parishes, towns, and counties. Boston, Massachusetts : Wright & Potter, 1889

Citing This Collection
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.