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Archiver > VATAZEWE > 2001-09 > 1001376863


From: Joe Cannon <>
Subject: [VA-TAZEWELL] Tazewell Marriage records
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 20:14:23 -0400


I had seen two different types of marriages records for Tazewell. One was a
full page document and one was a one line entry in a book that crosses two
pages. I called the courthouse today to find out the difference. Here's
what they told me.

The lady I spoke with at the courthouse said they call the one line entry
that spans two pages the marriage index. It usually contains the names of
the two people getting married, their ages, where they were born, their
parent's names (not always the maiden name of the mother), who married them
and some other info.

She called the one page document the marriage license or the marriage
application. It usually contains the same info as the index but also
includes more information on the person who performed the ceremony include
his church. It also sometimes contains more descriptive names (probably
just because there is more room). For instance, the father of Manford
Richards is listed as Jas F Richards in the index but as Jas Floyd Richards
on the license. I'm sure this varies. For his second wife it listed no
information on her parents at all. The lady at the courthouse said that
they didn't start keeping the license until the mid 1880's. She thinks
around 1886 but wasn't sure.

I have ordered the marriage index from LDS and I think it goes back this
week. I hope I don't get slammed, but right now I plan on going to look at
the film on Tuesday night (9/24) before it goes back. I would have a little
time to do some lookups for people on the list. I won't be able to make
copies of the records, but I could right down the information if there is
any.

I think the records on the film go to 1920 but I haven't seen anything past
1918. (The index has it's own index which goes to at least 1939 but none of
those records are on the film). Some of the earlier records are kind of hard
to read. I think they start around 1853 and get a little earier to read
around the 1870's. I didn't notice if the parent's names were listed before
the 1870's.

If you're interested, please let me know by 5 PM EST. Also, please let me
know the names, any alternate spelling of the surname, an approximate date
range and what you hope to find on the record.

Joecan


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