How to Find New Hampshire Marriage Records
Records of marriages occurring in each New Hampshire town or city have been kept by town clerks since the early 1600s. Statewide registration began in 1866. Total compliance with the law was not accomplished until the 1880s, and even then the practice was not uniform. By that point, less than half of the population registered marriages. Total compliance was achieved in 1905 with the establishment of the Bureau of Vital Records.
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? |
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Marriages before 1905
Town clerks in New Hampshire have been keeping record of marriages since the 1600s. In 1866, law required town clerks to send copies of marriage records to the state government. Between 1866 and 1905, compliance was not in enforced and many marriage records were not sent to the state.
| Try these databases. Indexes and Images of the New Hampshire Marriage Card Index | ||
| Database Name | Link or links to access database | |
| Ancestry, New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription |
| Ancestry, New Hampshire, Marriage Record Index, 1637-1947 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription |
| FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Marriage Records, 1637-1947 | Free, index and images of marriage records. These records consist of cards giving the names of the bride and groom with the town and date of the marriage and more information. | |
| Findmypast, United States Marriages–New Hampshire, 1637-1964 | ($), On Findmypast, index with some images. | |
| Annual Town Reports. Dates vary per town. | University of New Hampshire Digital Collection of Annual Reports of Towns The annual reports include the births, marriages, and deaths of the town for that year - usually in last part of the report. Select your town from the column on the left and then select the year you want. Download the PDF file and look in the table of contents for Marriages, or scroll to the end of the book to see if they are listed. | |
| FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Marriages, 1720-1920 | Free, index to marriage records. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and some FamilySearch Centers. | |
Obtain the Marriage Record
If your ancestor appeared in one of the indexes, there are two options:
- FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can view the microfilm at the Family History Library or some FamilySearch Centers..
- Individual Town Clerk Office - You may contact the town clerk where your ancestor died and order a copy of the marriage record.
If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in substitute records. You may also contact the town clerk where your ancestor married to obtain the marriage record.
| Records that give marriage information: | ||
Marriages between 1905 and 1947
The state of New Hampshire began recording marriages in 1892. All marriage certificates from 1892 to 1922 are held at the New Hampshire State Archives.
| Try these databases. Indexes and Images of the New Hampshire Card Marriage Index | ||
| Database Name | Link or links to access database | |
| Ancestry, New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription |
| Ancestry, New Hampshire, Marriage Record Index, 1637-1947 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription |
| FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Marriage Records, 1637-1947 | Free, index and images of marriage records. These records consist of cards giving the names of the bride and groom with the town and date of the marriage and more information. | |
| Findmypast, United States Marriages–New Hampshire, 1637-1964 | ($), On Findmypast, index with some images. | |
| Annual Town Reports. Dates vary per town. | University of New Hampshire Digital Collection of Annual Reports of Towns The annual reports include the births, marriages, and deaths of the town for that year - usually in last part of the report. Select your town from the column on the left and then select the year you want. Download the PDF file and look in the table of contents for Marriages, or scroll to the end of the book to see if they are listed. | |
| FamilySearch, New Hampshire, Marriages, 1720-1920 | Free, index to marriage records. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and some FamilySearch Centers. | |
If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in substitute records. You may also contact the New Hampshire State Archives to conduct a search for the marriage record.
Obtain the Certificate
If your ancestor appeared in the index, there are two options:
- FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can view the microfilm at the Family History Library or some FamilySearch Centers..
- New Hampshire State Archives - If there is no GS microfilm number available, or if you cannot gain access to the microfilm, you may contact the state archives and order a copy of the marriage certificate.
Marriages after 1947
Post-1947 records are available on the following Findmypast collection:
- United States Marriages – New Hampshire, 1637-1964 ($) index, some images
The New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records was established in 1905, bringing about full compliance to statewide registration of marriages that started in 1866. Since 1905, marriage records have been kept at both the town and state level. There are Annual Town Reports found at the University of New Hampshire Digital Collection of Annual Reports of Towns The annual reports include the births, marriages, and deaths of the town for that year - usually in last part of the report. Select your town from the column on the left and then select the year you want. Download the PDF file and look in the table of contents for Marriages, or scroll to the end of the book to see if they are listed. You will have to contact the state or town to order a marriage certificate.
Obtain the Certificate
| To Order Marriage Certificates | |||
| Town clerk's offices | New Hampshire Dept of State Division of Vital Records Administration | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | Town/city websites can be more difficult to use | Expedited service on Vital Chek | May be more expensive than ordering from the town/city |
See restrictions below to find if you "qualify" to order a certificate. You must have full name, exact date and place of marriage to order from the New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration. If you do not have the exact information, contact the Vital Records Office for more information. They may be able to do a search.
Restrictions to qualify for certificates for persons who married within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the certificate, you must be:
- The person(s) on the certificate
- Member of the person's immediate family
- Individuals who have a "direct and tangible interest"
If you do not want to order the marriage record, there are other records with marriage information you can search.
Related Wiki Articles
- U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 ($)
- New Hampshire, Marriage Records, 1637-1947 , )$), index
- New Hampshire Marriage Certificates, 1948-1959 — index and images
- New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947 ($)
- Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700 ($)
- Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700 ($)
- Second Supplement To Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700 ($)
