{"id":3198,"date":"2013-03-22T19:40:38","date_gmt":"2013-03-22T19:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=3198"},"modified":"2013-03-22T19:40:38","modified_gmt":"2013-03-22T19:40:38","slug":"how-to-find-georgia-marriage-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/how-to-find-georgia-marriage-records.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Georgia Marriage Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is easy to find copies of your Georgia ancestors\u2019 marriage certificates and records using two basic online genealogy tools: GenealogyBank.com<\/a> and FamilySearch.org<\/a>. If your ancestors lived in Georgia, let\u2019s see how we can find information about them.<\/p>\n

\"marriage<\/a>
Marriage certificate for Walter B. Dense and Mamie T. Thornton found using FamilySearch’s Georgia marriage records. Credit: FamilySearch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

FamilySearch.org has put Georgia marriage records from 1785 to 1950 online.<\/p>\n

You may search for these old marriage records online here: https:\/\/familysearch.org\/search\/collection\/1927197<\/a><\/p>\n

A typical search will produce a marriage certificate like this one for Walter B. Dense and Mamie T. Thornton.<\/p>\n

\"marriage<\/a>
Marriage certificate for Walter B. Dense and Mamie T. Thornton. Credit: FamilySearch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Image Credit: \u201cGeorgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950,\u201d index and images, FamilySearch: https:\/\/familysearch.org\/pal:\/MM9.1.1\/KXVC-7NK<\/a> Accessed 19 March 2013, Walter B. Dense and Mamie T. Thornton, 1879.<\/p>\n

This historical marriage certificate tells us that they were married by the Rev. Walker Lewis on 10 September 1879 in Bibb County, Georgia.<\/p>\n

Marriage certificates can be brief and to the point. As genealogists we are thrilled to have them and to look at them\u2014but we want to know more about the couple and their wedding.<\/p>\n

Newspapers can give us even more details on the lives of our ancestors.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start searching the marriage records that were published in Georgia newspapers.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s strategize this search.<\/p>\n

In this case the groom\u2019s surname, Dense, is a common word\u2014but the surname itself is not very common. The word \u201cdense\u201d could possibly appear in a marriage announcement, but it is not likely to come up except as a surname.<\/p>\n

By searching on the \u201cGeorgia Marriage Records<\/a>\u201d page in GenealogyBank I can focus my search results to bring up just marriage announcements that were printed in Georgia newspapers.<\/p>\n

\"GenealogyBank<\/a>
GenealogyBank search page for Georgia Marriage Records & Engagement Announcements<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Search Georgia marriage records at GenealogyBank here: https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/gbnk\/newspapers\/explore\/USA\/Georgia\/?type=marriage_engagement<\/a><\/p>\n

\"GenealogyBank<\/a>
GenealogyBank search box and search results page for Dense wedding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That worked: their wedding announcement was the first of ten search results.<\/p>\n

\"Marriage<\/a>
Macon Daily Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), 16 September 1879, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The historical newspaper article is giving us a lot more detail about the wedding then the basic facts recorded on the marriage certificate\u2014so many details that we can almost picture the wedding in our minds.<\/p>\n

\"Marriage<\/a>
Macon Daily Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), 16 September 1879, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n