Marriage contract

A Marriage Record Is a Marriage Record Is a Marriage Record—Not!

As researchers, we use words so loosely. Too loosely. We speak of *the* marriage record as though just one existed. We cite a date of marriage from a courthouse index without questioning *which* marriage-related event actually occurred on that date. In fact, we even see dates of marriage cited for couples who never went through the ceremony after one of the preliminary records was created. (Should I confess here that ...