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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: dashap on Monday 26 April 10 09:14 BST (UK)
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Could someone please do a lookup for a marriage between James Lewis and Annie Powell?
They eventually lived in Poughkeepsie (1900 US Census), but migrated from Wales. In 1900 they each give a different year for having arrived in USA, James in 1858, while Annie seems to have arrived in 1854. They state they have been married 37 years, which would make it the year 1863.
Any help with this would be much appreciated. Dash
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New York did not require statewide vital records registration until 1881. www.familysearch.org sometimes has earlier local records, which can be checked for free. Narrowing down where they were on earlier census records might be helpful.
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Thank you for your help Shellyesq.
Would it make any difference if they were in Pennsylvania or were most states the same as New York with the start of statewide record registration?
Many thanks, Dash
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It varies by state, and sometimes particular cities started registration before the entire state.
Apparently, Pennsylvania keeps its marriage records at the county level: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/marriage_and_divorce_certificates/14126 There are a few online indexes for Pennsylvania counties mentioned here: http://www.germanroots.com/vitalrecords.html However, most don't seem to go back before the 1880's.
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Thank you very much. The information you have given me is most helpful. Dash :)