17 January 1998 There are very few public records for North Carolina marriages before 1868 because most early marriages were church weddings performed after the banns were read three times at a main church service. Very few NC marriages of that period were performed by license. Only in the instances where there was a license was a marriage bond executed by the groom in the bride's county. Marriage bonds were used from 1741 to 1868 in NC. The NC Archives has a bride and groom index to the bonds which have survived. Even if a bond exists, there is very little personal information on the bond, no parents' names etc. You can write to the NC Archives and ask that they search the marriage bond index. They will answer one specific question per written query. If you live outwith North Carolina, there is a search fee of $8.00 which must accompany the query, along with a legal-sized, stamped, self- addressed envelope. Do not send extra money for photocopying ...if there are any additional charges they will bill you. Make your cheque/money order out to "North Carolina Archives" and post it to: North Carolina State Archives 109 East Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27601 If you are a North Carolina resident, there is no search fee, but you will still need to pay for photocopying. For marriages after 1868, you will need to contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the marriage was performed. Yours faithfully, Grace-Ellen McCrann North Carolina Librarian The State Library of North Carolina gmccrann@hal.dcr.state.nc.us