New Hampshire Marriage Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection "New Hampshire, Marriage Records" covers the years 1637 to 1947.

The collection "New Hampshire, Marriage Certificates" covers the years 1948 to 1959.

Marriage records were handwritten or later typed on pre-printed forms or cards with single entries on each page. In some cases brides and grooms have separate cards; in others the bride and groom are listed together. The cards are arranged alphabetically by the first and third letter of the groom's surname. More recent marriage records may include certificates of intention of marriage and certificates of marriage.

Town clerks began recording marriages as early as 1639. However, the earlier records do not give much information and the information varies depending upon the clerk. The earlier records only include part of the population. Records after 1901 give more information and the population coverage is near 100 percent.

Marriage records were created to legalize marital relationships and to safeguard the interests of the wife and other legal heirs.

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 of the informants (usually the bride and groom).

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

Marriage
 * Groom's name
 * Bride's name
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Residences of the bride and groom
 * Age and race of the bride and groom
 * Occupation of groom
 * Birthplace of each
 * Number of marriages for each
 * Whether widowed or divorced
 * Name of groom's parents and father's occupation
 * Name of bride's parents and father's occupation
 * Name, residence and title of officiator at marriage

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The names of the bride and groom
 * The approximate date of 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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s marriage record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

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

 * Search for birth and death records
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records
 * Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as military records
 * The name of the officiator is a clue to their religion

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

 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames
 * Search for the marriage record of the marriage partner if known
 * Check for a different index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume
 * 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 New Hampshire.
 * New Hampshire Guided Research
 * New Hampshire Record Finder
 * New Hampshire Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New Hampshire Research, 1880-Present

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Division of Vital Statistics. Bride's index, 1640-1900
 * New Hampshire Historical Society. Card file index to publishment of marriage intention prior to 1900
 * New Hampshire, Division of Archives and Records Management Marriage records, 1709-1962
 * Bureau of Vital Records. Certificates of marriage, persons unknown, 1752-1872
 * Registrar of Vital Statistics. Index to marriages, early to 1900
 * Bureau of Vital Records. Marriage certificates, 1901-1937
 * Bureau of Vital Records. Marriage record corrections and additions, 1677-1937
 * Bureau of Vital Records. Marriage records, 1938-1947
 * Bureau of Vital Records. Divorce certificates, 1938-1947

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * New Hampshire Marriages, 1720-1920
 * New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947
 * New Hampshire Marriage Certificates, 1948-1959

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.