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Category: marriage

A Brief Marriage

A Brief Marriage

Ah the happy couple. Don’t they look blissful? I think they had pickles at the reception. This is William Nelson Downing and his bride Delilah Downing. Downing is her maiden name and no, they were not related. They were neighbors though. Two of her sisters had already married two of his brothers and, on February 27, 1862, they were married. It didn’t last. Five months and one day later he was gone with her brother and other relatives in 106th…

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MARRIAGE RECORDS IN HIDING

MARRIAGE RECORDS IN HIDING

A common question is “why can’t I find my ancestor’s birth/death/marriage certificate?” The answer to no birth or death certificate is generally simple. The State of Illinois did not MANDATE such records prior to 1916. After that it is a bigger issue and the subject of a different post. Marriage records were always required and yet many times they cannot be located. Obviously, they may not have gotten married where you think they got married. For Illinois marriages prior to…

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