This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: amich2 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6887.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Did you actually contact the state registry for locating the record? I would assume you used one of those online search services to try & find the marriage record. I assume this because you got a generic suggestion to do a county search. Unlike most states, Massachusetts' counties do not handle vital records. Vital records are available through either the state or local (city/town) level. The easiest & usually most affordable method for obtaining a post-1915 record is through the city/town. Unfortunately, you don't know where he married. That leaves the state records. Unfortunately, Massachusetts does not make it easy to research post-1915 records, so you'll probably have trouble finding someone who can just look-up the record for you. It's probable you would have to hire a professional researcher to do a look-up for you. There is only one location that holds statewide vital records, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. It cost $9/hour to research there, & they limit the number of records you can access. I also hear they're not very welcoming of genealogical researchers. The website for the state's registry is at http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Departments and Divisions&L3=Department of Public Health&L4=Programs and Services K - S&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_vital_records_g_about&csid=Eeohhs2 The one other thing I can think of to do is to see if you can have a look-up done in the state marriage index to find out where Neil married, & then you could directly deal with the city/town. I know the State Archives & the New England Historic Genealogical Society both have books containing an index. You can try e-mailing either location to see if they will do the look-up for you, but they may want to charge you for it. You could then use that info to contact the City/Town Clerk for the record. Their websites: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcres/residx.htm http://www.newenglandancestors.org/research/services/2198.asp The marriage index, by the way, will not give you the bride's name, nor any info on Neil. It will give you a year & city/town. I just want to make you aware that it may be difficult to find your marriage. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.