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This valuable resource contains marriage records for approximately 287,000 individuals who wed in Arkansas between 1850 and 1900. The index brings together records from multiple counties, including areas where local documentation may have been incomplete or difficult to access. Whether you’re filling in gaps in a family tree or trying to uncover more about your Arkansas ancestors, this index offers a practical way to locate names, marriage dates, and other key details. It’s an excellent starting point for exploring 19th-century Arkansas marriages and connecting with your family’s past.
How to Find Marriage Records in Arkansas
If you’re tracing your Arkansas ancestors, marriage records are an excellent place to start. They not only help confirm relationships but also open up new branches in your family tree. Whether you’re searching for a couple in the mid-1800s or trying to locate a marriage that occurred closer to 1900, here are some practical tips for using Arkansas marriage indexes and expanding your research.
County Courthouses and Local Records
In Arkansas, marriage records have traditionally been maintained at the county level. This means your first step is to determine the county where the marriage likely took place. Once you know the county, you can:
- Visit or contact the county courthouse to access their marriage books or microfilm
- Check if the county has a local archive, historical society, or genealogical society with record copies
- Be aware that some older records may have gaps due to courthouse fires or lost ledgers
The Arkansas index from 1850–1900 is particularly helpful because it brings together data from across multiple counties—saving you time and pointing you in the right direction when original documents still exist.
Arkansas State Archives
The Arkansas State Archives, located in Little Rock, houses an extensive collection of historical records, including marriage indexes and actual marriage licenses or certificates. If you’re not able to visit in person, you can:
- Explore their online databases
- Request record lookups by mail or email
- Use their microfilm resources at a local FamilySearch Center
Their website (https://archives.arkansas.gov) is an essential tool for serious researchers.
Marriage Bonds, Licenses, and Certificates: What’s the Difference?
In Arkansas, especially in the 1800s, you may encounter different types of marriage documents:
- Marriage Bonds – Often required in early Arkansas as a legal promise that no legal obstacle existed to the marriage
- Marriage Licenses – Issued by the county clerk to grant permission for the marriage
- Marriage Certificates – Usually returned after the ceremony and signed by the officiant to confirm the marriage took place
Not all of these documents survive in every case, but if you find more than one for a couple, they can help you build a more complete story of the event.
Using Marriage Records in Your Research
Marriage records can tell you much more than a wedding date. Look closely at:
- Names of parents or witnesses – These may be relatives or in-laws, opening new avenues of research
- Ages and birthplaces – This can help you narrow down census records and determine approximate birth years
- Occupation and residence – Useful for connecting people across different types of records
Also, keep an eye out for remarriages, especially if a spouse died young or if there was a divorce. Many people married more than once, and each marriage record adds depth to your understanding of their life.
Arkansas marriage indexes, especially those covering the mid-to-late 1800s, are a foundational tool for family historians. With courthouse records, state archives, and digital databases at your fingertips, there are more opportunities than ever to uncover the marriages in your family tree. Start with an index to get names and dates—then follow the trail to original documents for richer details.