GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Prince Edward Island Marriages

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the marriage section of the Prince Edward Island Guided Research page.

A few marriage records for the area date back to 1787, although they are incomplete. From 1813 to 1824 marriages are missing. A second series of marriage licenses for years from 1831 to 1919 were kept. Marriage bonds were kept from 1849 to 1902. From 1906 and 1912, marriages are not complete. Province-wide civil registration of marriage records began in 1906. By 1920, there was full compliance to registration.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1780-1983  Prince Edward Island, Canada, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, 1780-1983  at Ancestry ($)
 * 1832-1888  Prince Edward Island, Canada, Marriage Registers, 1832-1888  at Ancestry ($)

Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search given name. Search by given name by leaving out the last name.
 * Search for bride. Search by the bride’s name rather than the groom’s name.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate year of marriage or the county the marriage took place in.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search state. Search using the state name only instead of by county.

Most vital records prior to 1906 for Prince Edward Island are at the Public Archives and Records Office.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * 1787 Marriage licenses began but were not complete.
 * 1813-1824 Marriage licenses were lost.
 * 1831-1919 Second series of marriage licenses were kept.
 * 1849-1902 Marriage bonds were kept
 * 1906 Province-wide registration of marriages began.