Georgia Church Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes an index and images of selected church marriages records from 1754-1960. Many of the records are from Bibb, Chatham, Liberty, and Richmond counties. Marriages were recorded by the clerk of the district court for each county from the time the county was formed. Persons desiring to marry obtained a license that they presented to the minister or other person authorized to marry, such as a justice of the peace. Once the marriage was performed, the officiator sent a return to the clerk confirming that the marriage had occurred. The marriage date, place, residence of the bride and groom, and occupations are relatively reliable. Other information, such as age or birthplace, is dependent on the knowledge, memory, and accuracy of the informants, usually the bride and groom.

This collection contains various church records, meeting minutes, membership rolls, and church histories. It may also include some newspaper articles, church programs, and photographs.

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

Marriage
 * Full name
 * Age
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Parents’ names
 * Parents’ residence
 * Marital status
 * Previous spouse
 * Date of marriage
 * Place of marriage
 * Race
 * Titles and terms
 * Notes
 * Page/Volume/Entry/Certificate Number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event or the name of a parent or spouse

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County or Town
 * 2) Select the Church or Parish
 * 3) Select the Record Type and Year Range to view the images.

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?

 * Use the birth date and to find other records such as birth, christening, census, land and death
 * Use the information to find additional family members. Witnesses or bondsmen on marriages were usually relatives
 * Search for civil marriage records

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

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

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

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.