Maryland Vital Records: Marriages

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= Maryland Marriage Records =

Colonial Marriages, 1640-1776
Beginning in 1640 the Maryland General Assembly required the clergy to post marriage banns and keep registers of marriages. Marriage Banns informed the community that the couple intended to marry and it was announced every week for several weeks at the local church before the marriage took place. The marriage register recorded that the marriage event happened.


 * Information on these marriages included:


 * Name of bride and groom
 * Date of marriage (marriage register)
 * Sometimes lists witnesses

The Maryland General Assembly transferred the responsibility for recording marriages starting in 1695 to the Protestant Episcopal Church and their parishes. Therefore, during the colonial period, parish registers became the only place marriages were recorded. A list of all the church records held at the Maryland State Archives can be found at this link.

Marriage Licenses, 1777-1864
The Clerk of the County Court was required by the Maryland General Assembly to supply marriage licenses by 1777. Marriage Licenses were not always obtained by all those getting married. Licenses were not required of African-Americans until 1777. Nor were Quakers required to obtain them as according to their religious practices. Also, if the couple published marriage banns for three Sundays in the bride’s county of residence, they could forego the marriage license. A license created does not mean the marriage took place.


 * Marriage licenses during this time period consisted of:


 * Name of bride and groom
 * Date of license
 * Sometimes name of minister performing ceremony

Marriage Records, 1865-1885
Starting in 1865, the county court was required to record all vital events including marriages and send a copy to the Secretary of the Senate. The individual performing the marriage brought a copy of the marriage license back to the court to have the actual date of marriage recorded in the marriage register books.


 * Marriage records beginning in 1865 contained:
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Race of bride and groom
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Marital status of bride and groom (single or widowed)
 * Occupation of bride and groom
 * Date of license
 * Date of marriage
 * Minister’s information including residence

Marriage License Applications, 1886-1913
Another law passed in 1886 required that in addition to the marriage license a signed application must be submitted by the marriage couple. The law also required that the groom must be twenty one and the bride must be sixteen to marry without permission of a parent or guardian. Later laws changed the bride's age to eighteen years old.


 * The marriage license application contained the following information:
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Residence of bride and groom
 * Race of bride and groom
 * Occupation of bride and groom
 * Marital status couple (single or widowed)
 * Signature of each applicant
 * Date of application, license and marriage
 * Parent or guardian’s consent if underage

Marriage Certificates, 1914 to the Present
The Bureau of Vital Statistics (under the State Department of Health) required counties and Baltimore City to report their marriages to them starting in 1914.


 * These marriage certificates gives information about each of the couple including their:
 * Name
 * Age
 * Birthplace
 * Residence
 * Race
 * Occupation
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Date of marriage license
 * Minister officiating
 * Parents or guardian’s consent if underage
 * Sometimes indicated if prior marriage for bride or groom

Maryland State Archives
Marriage records and indexes located at the Maryland State Archives can be viewed onsite or a research request can be made. To view fees and how to request information go to the Maryland State Archives website, Placing Research &amp; Copy Orders.

Below is a list of the necessary information to view or request microfilm and original records that are available at the Maryland State Archives seperated by time period:

Colonial Marriages, 1640-1766


 * 1654-1706 Charles County Court (births, marriages, deaths) [MSA C653, Microfilm]
 * 1675-1707 Kent County Court (proceedings) [MSA C1091]
 * 1675-1707 Kent County Court (land records) [MSA C1068, Microfilm]
 * 1649-1720 Somerset County Court (births, marriages, deaths) [MSA C1739, Microfilm]
 * 1657-1691 Talbot County Court (births, marriages, deaths) [MSA C1840, Microfilm]


 * INDEXES, Maryland Marriages


 * Various dates, Bible and Tombstone records (refers only to printed or manuscript records) [MSA S1406]
 * 1686-1958, Church Records, Marriage Index (15 churches) [MSA S1396]
 * 1649-1720, 1774-1886, Index to Marriage Licenses and Records (incomplete) [MSA S1397]


 * INDEXES, Implied Maryland Marriages - these indexes only go to records that imply marriage and do not give an exact date of marriage. These are useful when no record of the marriage has survived.


 * Various dates, Maryland Marriage References [MSA S1527]
 * Various dates, Hodges Index, Marriage References [MSA S1396]
 * Various dates, Magruders Index, Marriage References [MSA S1487]

Marriage records 1777-1914 (som e for after 1914) 

Original and microfilm copies of marriage indexes and records can be found at the Maryland State Archives


 * INDEX
 * 1777-1804 These marriages are indexed up to 1804 in Maryland Marriages by Robert Barnes (available at the Maryland State Archives and Family History Library(FHL). For references for the FHL, see Locating Records at the FHL below
 * Records 
 * 1777-1804, Marriage Returns, Maryland State Papers Scharf Collection [MSA S1005]


 * 1777-1804 Marriage licenses by County (county courts and circuit courts)
 * 1865-1885 Marriage Records
 * 1886-1914 Marriage License Applications

Marriage Certificiates 1914-1997


 * Baltimore City 1914-1940 Marriage Certificates [MSA T317]

No index is available from 1914-1940 at the Maryland State Archives


 * Counties (not including Baltimore City)
 * 1914-1930 Marriage Certificates, Soundex by Bride [MSA SM184]
 * 1914-1930 Marriage Certificates, Soundex by Groom (incomplete) [MSA S1498, microfilm]
 * 1931-1940 Marriage Certificates, Soundex by Grom [MSA T318]

The Maryland State Archives is consistently obtaining new records. Please check the recently transferred website to see recent acquisitions.

Baltimore City &amp; Counties Indexes, 1941-1987


 * INDEX, Brides 
 * 1951-1968 Index to Marriages [MSA SM224]
 * 1968-1972 Index to Marriages [MSA SM226]    


 * INDEX, Grooms 
 * 1951-1968 [MSA SM223]
 * 1968-1972 [MSA SM225]


 * Records 
 * 1941-1987 Marriage Certificates [MSA T315]

There is no index available from 1941-1951 at the Maryland State Archive. However, they are arranged in order by year and month of marriage, jurisdiction (county or city) and then alpha order by groom’s name.

Marriage Certificates 1973-1997


 * INDEX
 * 1951-1989 Marriage Index – a paper copy of an index to marriages for Maryland is available at the Maryland State Archives. However, the copy is difficult to read and some entries are indecipherable.


 * Records
 * 1973-1997 Marriage Records 1973-1997 Maryland Marriage Certificates [MSA T315]

Circuit Courts
1997 to the present

For marriage records after 1997, the records must be obtained from the Circuit Court where the marriage took place. To contact a circuit court, use the Maryland State Archives page, List of Maryland Circuit Courts to obtain address and phone number of the appropriate court.

Family History Library
To access records at the Family History Library, the reference information must be obtained (microfilm, microfiche, compact disk number and book call number) from the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). Instructions on how to use the FHLC can be found here.

Colonial Births, 1640-1776

The following are links to topics or microfilm information in the Family History Library. Each topic has records that contain either a book call number or microfilm number to the record. Only microfilms and microfiche can be loaned from the Family History Library:


 * Kent County, 1648-1790 partially indexed


 * Somerset County, indexes &amp; records

Some early marriage records are indexed in three books by Robert Barnes called, Maryland Marriages. These books are available at the Family History Library(FHL). The following are links to the book call number that is necessary to view the books in person at the FHL in Salt Lake City 1634-1777 1778-1800 1801-1820

Another compilation of early Maryland marriages (1600s and 1700s) can be found in Annie W. B. Bell’s Maryland Marriage Records. This source is available in book form as well as microfilm and can be loaned to any Family History Center. Family History Center.

Marriage Records, 1777 up to 1886

The Family History Library contains microfilm copies of marriages recorded by the Circuit Court marriages from 1777 up to 1886 for about half of the Maryland counties. They will be found on the county jurisdiction in the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) and should be found using the "place search" in the FHLC.

The Family History Library also has many book compilations of marriages. These marriages are taken from original records and cover a variety of dates depending on the county. Reference information (book, microfilm, or microfiche number) to view these records can be found in the Family History Library Catalog under the county the marriage took place.

For instructions on how to do a county "place search" in the Family History Library Catalog, click here.

Division of Vital Records Department of Health &amp; Mental Hygiene
From 1990 to the present, marriage records can be ordered from the Division of Vital Records. However, you must be the bride, groom or representative of one of the couple to obtain a marriage certificate. Genealogists should obtain copies of marriage records from the circuit court the marriage took place or contact the Maryland State Archives.

Click here to download a marriage certificate application from the Division of Vital Records.


 * To mail in a request:


 * Division of Vital Records
 * P.O. box 68760
 * Baltimore, MD 21215-0036


 * To call for more information, (410) 764-3038 or (800) 832-3277


 * To order for same day service with additional fee, go to Vitalchek.com