Intentions (1 date) of marriage have to be filed at least three days before the license (2nd date) can be issued and a certificate (3rd date) will be issued a few days after the marriage is performed, especially when a copy of the license is requested. This practice still goes on, in Maine at least, today. My son just got married in March. Hope this helps! Linisa ----- Original Message ----- From: Newell Hall Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 4:28 PM To: MEWASHIN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MEWASHIN-L] Marriage Intention Question I have copies of marriage intentions from a town in ME recorded on forms specifically designed to record marriage intentions from Thomas B Mosher, Stationer, Portland ME. The town clerk entered the date that the marriage intention was recorded (say April 12, 1892) on the form where indicated, another date that the "certificate" was issued (say 16 April 1892) on the form where indicated, but the marriage is recorded at the Maine State Archives on yet a third date (April 17, 1892). Does anyone understand the meaning/significance of the 3 different dates? Does "certificate" mean marriage certificate? Is the date of recording the same as the intention date" or is the "intention date" the date the "certificate" was issued? Newell C. Hall<br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p>