This month we think of love and marriage. Most of us don’t have a stash of love letters to study, so we can find out more about these events in our family history by studying parish records.

Parish records document the same events as vital statistic records, but instead of copies being sent to government offices, these records were created at the event itself and may be held locally. You may have to begin with vital statistic records to figure out where to look for parish records.

Marriage records of any kind can provide a wealth of important genealogical information. Not only is the event date provided, but the complete formal names of the bride and groom are regularly given. (You may be surprised to find your ancestor listed under a different name than recorded on censuses or used in everyday life.) This is particularly important when trying to trace your female line, as the woman’s birth surname is often lost at marriage. Frequently, the names of the parents of the couple are given, again, critical for researching your female ancestors. The marital status of the couple is also noted and is usually listed as single (sometimes as bachelor or spinster) or widowed; the latter case can provide clues to past marriages and extended families.

The benefits of studying parish records are that they may reveal different details than vital statistics records and they contain the actual signatures of the people involved. Parish records are generally more difficult to obtain due to problems locating them and to the variety of regulations used by different churches. Some churches may only send a transcribed copy and keep the records behind closed doors, while other churches may allow you to visit and touch the actual book that your ancestors signed all those years ago: that ink captured the moment of commitment to marriage and love.

This article was originally printed in the Bergen News and is being reprinted with permission.