I don't think there would have been a requirement since there wasn't really a requirement that people have birth certificates until after 1900. From what I can tell, few states required them prior to about 1905 and even then they don't seem to be reliably found until around 1915. I have several marriage certificates from the late 1890's that have incorrect information for a mother's maiden name. Oh, and I just remembered. My grandparents were married in Port Chester in 1921. My grandfather, born in 1898 didn't have a birth certificate and in later years always used his army discharge papers from WWI as proof of his age. Not only are there errors about where his parents were born, but he had been married before and they accepted his statement that he hadn't seen his 1st wife in over 9 years but had never officially been divorced and granted the marriage license. During WW2 my other grandfather, who also didn't have a birth certificate and didn't have the benefit of military service, had to get a delayed birth certificate. He had to submitt a certified copy of his baptismal record, a record from when he started school, and a sworn statement by his oldest sister who was present at his birth. This was in 1942 when he went to work at a defense plant. So that means that when he got married in 1919 he didn't have a birth certificate. And this was in Wisconsin, which was one of the first states to require civil registration beginning in 1904 (or was it 1907?). When I started down this wonderful road of family research, I was cautioned that the only information that could be relyed on on a document was the information relating to that specific event. All other information should be considered suspect until verified by a second source. Kathi IBSSG New York - Thompson/Crane/Bramm/Fleischer Wisconsin - Meissner/Steng/Diem/Zeininger In a message dated 3/29/2007 11:32:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time, joygrl_203@yahoo.com writes: Does anyone know if it was a requirement to show a birth certificate when you applied for a marriage license in the early 1900's? I am trying to figure out if the parents names provided was guess work or came directly from their birth certificate. Thanks, Joy Joy McMillan <joygrl_203@yahoo.com> wrote: It would be great to get this issue settled. My mother and I have had nothing but returned checks and the run around from Yonkers. Thanks for taking an interest. ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.