Question

Finding proof of marriage with only an obit notice?

Comments

An obit may give a marriage date, and less often a place of marriage, in which case you have a good lead. Place of birth of the first child is another lead. Census records, if you have them, are another lead.

Sometimes, people were rather mobile and the hunt is more complex. My wife and I were born in different, wide separated counties. We were married in a third county, and out children were born in yet another. My parents were married in a separate country, which was not the country where either was born.

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My mother's marriage cert to my dad has her listed as widowed. I am looking at two obit's found in the Ogden Examiner one for Chester LaVerle Martin married 23 July 1951 in Ogden, Utah- I believe he passed in 1952 and the other for Martin William Wilson- passed in 1954 in Medford, Oregon. Both obits mention Donna Jones as wife and Lona Fae as child. My mother is Donna Mae Jones and my sister is Lona Fae. It may be a wild goose chase but it's all I have found to try to figure it out.

Answer 1

It's not ideal because this is certainly a critical relationship to establish but it's better than nothing.  I might leave the relationship  Uncertain but the surrounding information you have plays into the answer. Are you confident they are  "a couple" but just aren't sure if they're married.  Is the Obit well sourced with reliable information?   Are there census records where they should be living together but aren't?   Are there children involved?  Do  you have the maiden name?

I think more people might venture an answer if you provide more details.  A profile for at least one of the couple would be very helpful.

Comments

I also have an obit on a "step" grandmother Babette Feulner  in Stamford, Connecticut married to my grandfather Clinton Greenleaf Husted but can find no certificate of marriage. He was married to her for 11 years according to his step granddaughter. Shortly after she passed, he married his cousin? Emma Jillard 3 July 1960 in Poughkeepsie, NY