Washington Marriage Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes marriage indexes from the Washington State Archives for the years 1969-2014. The records are arranged by year and then in boxed files, alphabetically by name.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records contain the following information:
 * Names of Bride and Groom
 * Date and place of marriage

Collection Content
A sample image of an indexed record:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the bride or groom
 * The approximate date or place of marriage.

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.

Remember to:
 * Whenever possible, look at the original record. If often has more information than the indexed record.
 * Print or download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed.

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

 * Use the marriage date to estimate a date of birth in searching other county records such as birth, baptism, and death records.
 * An original copy of the indexed record may show witnesses to the marriage. Witnesses were usually family members.
 * Use the marriage place and date to find the couple in future census records.
 * After marriage, it is possible the couple purchased land. Land records may be available.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.
 * Church Records were kept years before counties and governments began keeping records. They are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching in nearby areas.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

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.


 * Collection Citation:

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