Sullivan County Marriages
Please click here for a partial transcription of Sullivan County marriages, compiled by Kathy McKown.
To order marriage certificates from the state, please click here for additional information.
- Early Marriages in Tennessee (Prior to 1861)
Tennessee counties were not required to record marriages in bound record books until 1838. While not required to do so, many counties in Tennessee did record their early marriages.
A list of extant (in existence) marriage records in Tennessee for the years 1780-1861 has been published. You may e-mail TSLA with the name of the bride or groom, the approximate year of the marriage and (if known) the county where the marriage took place. Please send only one e-mail search request at a time for a single marriage record search. We will check the index and send a reply by e-mail at no charge notifying you if a listing for the probate record is found. TSLA tries to respond to e-mail questions within ten working days.
- Tennessee Marriage Records 1861 – June 30, 1945
Marriages 1861 – June 30, 1945 can be found in the records of each county. There is no state-wide index to marriages during this time period. We can search the microfilmed county records for a marriage record if given the names of the groom and bride, county of marriage, and the date of the marriage or a 5-year date span. If the marriage occurred in one of the four metropolitan counties (Davidson County, Hamilton County, Knox County and Shelby County), then a 3-year date span must be specified. PLEASE NOTE that TSLA does not have Davidson County marriage records for May 1941 – June 1945. These records are available through the Metropolitan Archives of Nashville and Davidson County.
- Tennessee Marriage Records July 1, 1945 – December 31, 1949
For the dates July 1, 1945 – December 31, 1949, there is a year-by-year statewide microfilm index to Tennessee marriage records. The index is arranged by the name of the groom. A request for a marriage record search for the years dates July 1, 1945 – December 31, 1949 must include the name of the groom. TSLA will, for a fee, search a five year range in this index. The search request requires the name of the groom and the date of the marriage (or we will search the five year range 1945-1949); the name of the bride & the county of marriage are not required, but should be included if known.
- Tennessee Marriage Records 1950-1961
For the years 1950-1961, there is a year-by-year statewide microfilm index to Tennessee marriage records. This index can be searched by either the name of the bride or the name of the groom. TSLA will, for a fee, search this microfilm index. The search request should include the name of the bride or groom (or both), the county where the marriage took place (optional), and the date of the marriage (or we will search a five year range).
- Tennessee Marriage Records 1962 – Present
For marriage records from 1962 to the present, contact the Office of Vital Records.
PLEASE NOTE : Marriage records in Tennessee have changed during its statehood. In many cases, the marriage license itself was given to the bride and groom. The official marriage record on file in the state will be an entry made into a marriage ledger book by the County Court Clerk. Generally, the clerk recorded only the names of the bride & groom, the minister or justice of the peace, and (sometimes) the bondsman. A limited number of counties began issuing duplicate marriage licenses in the 1880s. The information on marriage records can vary county by county. Some counties began listing the names of the parents of the bride & groom in the 1880s; some counties did not include this information until the mid 1920s. When you request a search for a marriage record from TSLA, we will check to see if there is a marriage license on file. If there is no license on file, then we will send the entry from the county’s marriage ledger book.
ORDERING INFORMATION AND FEES:
- For a $5 fee, TSLA can photocopy and mail the listings for one surname from the index to pre-1861 marriages. This fee covers the cost of copying up to ten pages. The $5 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Public Services, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORM SS-2235 — Printed Index Search Request]
- TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
- Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.
- There is a $20 fee to search for a marriage record. If the record is found, we will mail a copy to you. If the record is not found, you will be notified by mail. The $20 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORM SS-2237 — Microfilm Copy Order]
- Please note that we ask that you submit each search request on a separate form. There may be a waiting period of up to 3-4 weeks before you receive a reply.
- TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
- Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.
- RESIDENTS OF TENNESSEE (with a current Tennessee postal address) will pay a $10 fee to copy a marriage record. The $10 fee is not refundable. Payment in advance by check, money order or credit card is required. Send your request to Tennessee State Library and Archives, Research Department, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37243-0312. [GO TO FORM SS-2237 — Microfilm Copy Order]
- Please note that we ask that you submit each search request on a separate form. There may be a waiting period of up to 3-4 weeks before you receive a reply.
- TSLA can, for an additional $5.00 fee, certify a document in our collection.
- Some printed indexes and microfilmed records are available for delivery via e-mail through TSLA E-Docs.
I am trying to find a record for the marriage of Joshua A. Edwards (bn 4/30/1808 Sullivan County) to Sarah Smith Dec. 9, 1824/1829.
I am encouraged by your statement: A list of extant (in existence) marriage records in Tennessee for the years 1780-1861 has been published. You may e-mail TSLA with the name of the bride or groom, the approximate year of the marriage and (if known) the county where the marriage took place. Please send only one e-mail search request at a time for a single marriage record search. We will check the index and send a reply by e-mail at no charge notifying you if a listing for the probate record is found. TSLA tries to respond to e-mail questions within ten working days.
Thank you so very much,
Sandra Edwards Soto
I am looking for the marriage date between Edith Edna King and George Alexander McGuire that took place in Sullivan County, Kingsport, TN, I believe in 1943. Thank you for your assistance.
I am looking for a record with the date of marriage between Adam M Hunt and Sarah L Mills around 1860. Thank you so much for you help.
I am looking for the marriage record on Ellis Lee Howell and Viola Price Akers. The date of their marriage is April 16, 1919. Not sure which county, they “ran away” from the Roanoke, VA area. These are my grandparents. Thank you.
I am searching for the marriage record of William Andrew Berry and Nancy Anna Miller. In her widows pension application in 1906, she says “the court house burned.” Did it? And is the record available? Thank you!
June
I am looking for a Marriage record for James H Miller Sr…born about 1840…He had a son James H Miller Jr….Believe he was born in Tennesse and died in Tennesse, but lived in Virginia….any help would be appreciated…thank you
I am trying to find a marriage certificate for James Dennis Snowden Jr and Edna Elizabeth Howard in 1941 or 1942. I believe they were married in Sullivan Co.