For a small fee, I anticipate you could get a copy of the original marriage bond or license from Wilkinson Co. I was successful in doing so for my ancestors, and the bond or license (I forget which it was) provided me a good deal of information about bondsmen, etc. Or, if you are near an LDS center, you MAY (no guarantees) find the information on film(s) which you can order from Salt Lake City--for a small fee. (In fact, now that I think about it, I believe I got the information from a film rather than from the county clerk.) Take a look at the LDS catalog: <A HREF="www.familysearch.org">www.familysearch.org</A> The link is on the lower right of the screen. Type in Wilkinson and then the state, and then look for vital records to learn whether the marriage record has been filmed for the time you desire. Also, you might try typing in your surname(s) in the catalog and see whether there are any family histories which pertain to that surname. Much of the IGI (International Genealogical Index) and particularly the Ancestral File has flawed information, so don't count on that source too heavily. E.W.Wallace E.W.Wallace

As far as the IGI goes, you have to look at the source. If it was submitted by a patron, then take it with a grain of salt and prove the data from original sources. Otherwise, it may have come from an original document from a clerk's office. Not all of the IGI is faulty. You also have to remember that a clerk can sometimes make a mistake as well. I really enjoy using the microfilms which show you an original. These are fabulous and the staff at any FHC are quite friendly and helpful. Tina Hall -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:09 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MSWILKIN] Re: MSWILKIN-D Digest V03 #14 For a small fee, I anticipate you could get a copy of the original marriage bond or license from Wilkinson Co. I was successful in doing so for my ancestors, and the bond or license (I forget which it was) provided me a good deal of information about bondsmen, etc. Or, if you are near an LDS center, you MAY (no guarantees) find the information on film(s) which you can order from Salt Lake City--for a small fee. (In fact, now that I think about it, I believe I got the information from a film rather than from the county clerk.) Take a look at the LDS catalog: <A HREF="www.familysearch.org">www.familysearch.org</A> The link is on the lower right of the screen. Type in Wilkinson and then the state, and then look for vital records to learn whether the marriage record has been filmed for the time you desire. Also, you might try typing in your surname(s) in the catalog and see whether there are any family histories which pertain to that surname. Much of the IGI (International Genealogical Index) and particularly the Ancestral File has flawed information, so don't count on that source too heavily. E.W.Wallace

For those who do not know, I am a Mormon and was the director of the FHC for many years. If you are looking for marriage records on the IGI and there is an M before the source number [example M59043] it was a marriage extraction. Extractions are done from microfilmed or Photocopies of the original records. The data cards will be filled out by two people, and then proofed by a third. Then the data is typed into a special computer file, using the data cards. The computer disk is then passed to yet another person who retyped all of the data, using the original records. That person could not see what had been typed into the program previously but if there was a difference, the computer noted it. If there where 3 mistakes in the entire program, it all had to be done over. All of this by voluteers. When the program was aceptable here it was returned to San Antonio where it was checked again before being sent to Salt Lake where it was checked yet again. I headed the extraction program for a short time and I can assure you, we do try to get it right. Marriages submitted by a family member does not have a letter before the source number. Sometimes, when there is no birth record we have to go with 'best guess'. When a member of the LDS church dies, their name, birth date and parents are added to the IGI at the next update. This information is from records the member filled out when joining the church. It includes birth date and place, and the name of both parents. My George Perry, Jr, joined the LDS church shortly before he died. On the IGI his mother's name is Nancy Rogers. That was a great help as early researchers had her as Nancy Roddy. The IGI is used in research to help you locate the place of birth or if the record says [of] it means they where known to reside in that state, county or country. Check census, marriages, deeds, wills, etc, of that area to find more on the family. The Ancestral File and the on-line Pedigree file are summited by members and non members, for the purpose of contacting other researchers and shareing their family research. Sometimes they are a great source of imformation, other times they are totally incorrect. If you are a Day researcher, either Amite or Wilkinson, be aware that both the IGI and Ancestral File have confused the two families. If you are a Wilkinson county Day descendant,or Ashley, Cavin or Perry, contact me and I will send what I have on your direct line and I am always open to corrections and additions. I live in Texas. I do most of my research from microfilm. Wilkinson county marriage, black and white; deeds; wills; inventory and appraisials; probates and many other records are on microfilm and cost $3.25 to rent for oen month, another $3.25 to renew for another two months and another $3.25 will put it on indenifite loan. A total of $9.75 will keep the film there as long as you have need of it. These are the original record books, just as you would find them in the Woodville courthouse, except not as heavy or as dusty. . Virginia