And in my possession is a marriage record of my great-grandparents "marrying each other in front of witnesses without benefit of clergy" from Greene Co. in 1885"....so it was not uncommon. And they did take out a marriage license but they said their own vows, made their own promises to each other. Becky Wash., Pa. Legatity of Marriage > > I can't offer an explanation ... but a slight twist on the issue. I have a copy of an Application for Marriage License with the following note in the margin: "License was Returned and parties self-married." > > - Chuck > csf@lm.com > > Eva Dayle Zippay wrote: > > > > The only thing I can think of is a "common law" marriage Now, as to why they had an application, I can only guess. > > > --- Turekd08@aol.com wrote: I have a True and Correct Copy of an Application for Marriage License from Fayette Co. with a completed Duplicate Cirtificate of Marriage in the 1930's issued by the courthouse in Uniontown. It states that the man and woman entered into a solemnization of marriage. This marriage did not involve any Minister, Priest, Justice of the Peace, Judge or other legal authority.