In response to a message I posted earlier on this subject a listmember responded: <snip> I've sent to Frankfort for early marriage records that occurred during the intermittent periods in the mid 1800's when they were being recorded. According to the dates, the records should have been there; however, I was told that they were not. I wonder if they even looked! <snip> Which caused me to ask a couple of cousins that still live in Laurel and Knox counties about common law marriages. One cousin who retired from the Sherrif's Department knew that at least while she was working Kentucky recognized "Common Law" marriages and she sure when Kentucky ceased to recognize "Common Law." "Common Law" marriages were accepted and there were some spousal rights. But there was no requirement to register the marriage. Also many of the early marriages were performed by circuit riders and they may or may not have recorded the marriages they performed. Here in Florida "Common Law" was recognized until the late 1960s. Same deal as above. Church records, where they exist, are still they best source, especially when there are governmental records verifing the church records. Sonny Vaughn