Marriage Record Search Prior to 1994

MARRIAGE RECORDS

Sandusky County Probate Court has been digging through its older volumes of journals. In an attempt to share these records with the public, the Court has scanned various records contained in these journals. You are able to print all of the records contained in this search. If you are looking for a certified copy of the record please contact the Court at 419-334-6211 OR probateinfo@sanduskycountyoh.gov. SEARCH HERE for the cost of a certified copy.

In order to assist the public in navigating our online marriage record search, defining the terminology used by the Court is prudent. A marriage record consists of three parts:

• Marriage Application – the application is completed by the applicants in order to apply to the Court to get married. You may make an application to the Court and decide not to get married. So there are some instances where the Court has an application but doesn’t have a marriage certificate or certificate of return.
• Marriage Certificate – this is the record that contains the information the applicants completed in the marriage application. Often the marriage certificate is ornate in nature and has sentimental value. This is commonly referred to as the marriage license.
• Return – this is the official part of the record that the Officiant (person performing the ceremony) is required to return to the Court. The return validates the marriage. This is commonly referred to as the certificate of return.

When searching through the Court’s journals there generally is an index at the beginning of the journal or there is a separate journal of indexes. Court terminology:

• Index – alphabetical listing of names.
• Journal – is a book of Court proceedings meant to document the cases the Court handles.

SEARCH FOR MARRIAGE APPLICATIONS 1838-1867

Make sure you select the “Marriages” tab highlighted in purple at the top of the page. Under the “Books” column select the Marriage Applications. An index for this selection is NOT available. You may make an application to the Court and decide not to get married. So there are some instances where the Court has an application but doesn’t have a marriage certificate or certificate of return. Some of these applications coincide with the marriage certificates and returns listed in the search for certificate of marriage/returns 1820-1866. To search for marriage applications from 1838 -1867 without an index SEARCH HERE.

SEARCH FOR CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE/RETURNS 1820-1866

Make sure you select the “Marriages” tab highlighted in purple at the top of the page. Under the “Books” column select Marriage Index for Certificate of Marriage/Returns.

The index is alphabetical and a separate journal from the marriage certificates and returns. Instructions to help you search are listed below:

• First you will need the last name of the male applicant (i.e. Amsden, Thomas).
• Select the “Marriage” tab at the top of the page, highlighted in purple below.
• Select Marriage Index for Certificate of Marriage/Returns. Select the index marked A to coincide with the first letter of the last name you are searching. The first listing is Amsden, Thomas and Chapman, Lydia. It says at the beginning that this marriage record is in Book A. Next to their name is a column that says PAGE, this record is contained on page 11.

• Next under the “Books” column select the Certificate of Marriage/Returns Book A 1820-1843. Under the “Pages” column you need to scroll down and locate page 11. You may have to scroll to a sub-set of page 11 (i.e. 11.1 or 11.2 etc.) to locate the record you are searching for. This record happens to be located on page 11.3.

To search for certificates of marriage and returns from 1820-1866 SEARCH HERE.

SEARCH MARRIAGE APPLICATION, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AND RETURN 1867-1993

For marriage applications and marriage certificates/returns for 1867 – 1903, you will need to search the index alphabetically by the male’s last name. Starting in October 1903 the index can be searched alphabetically by the male’s last name or the female’s last name.

• First you will need the last name of the male. For this example we will search for Aigler, Isaac. Select the “Marriage” tab highlighted in purple at the top of the page. Under the “Books” column select the Marriage Application and Marriage Certificate/Return w/Index 1867 – Sept. 1874.
• Under the “Pages” column select Index A. Aigler starts with A.

• Under the “Page Image” column find Aigler, Isaac. Note the number 68.
• Go back to the “Pages” column and scroll down until you find page 68. You may have to scroll to a sub-set of page 68 (i.e. 68.1 or 68.2).
• Select each of the pages associated with 68 until you find the record you are searching for, in this case you are searching for record 68.2 – Aigler, Isacc.

To search for Marriage Applications and Marriage Certificate/Returns from 1867- December 1993 SEARCH HERE.