Easton

Preserving History

Steamers of the Chesapeake 

serving the Upper Shore of Maryland

Maryland Marriages

Ever wonder why a marriage record for your ancestors couldn't be found? 

In 1777 the General Assembly of Maryland required marriage licenses to be obtained from the clerk of the county court. As specified by the law ministers returned lists of those married to the Treasurer of the Western Shore or Treasurer of the Eastern Shore. Many of these returns are available in the Maryland State Papers at the Maryland State Archives.

The 1777 law applied only to the marriage of white citizens. Not until 1867 did the marriage laws apply to African Americans. In addition, the publication of banns on three Sundays in the county where the female resided could be used in lieu of a license. Quakers could marry without a license in accordance with their practices.

In 1865 Maryland required the recording of births, deaths, and marriages at the county level, with further reporting to the Secretary of the Senate. The marriage records created under the 1865 law contain the date of the license; age, race, residence, occupation, and marital status of the bride and groom; date and place of marriage; and name, title, and residence of the minister.

The 1865 law did not require everyone to be licensed. As before, only whites were subject to the law. Specific provisions for African Americans were enacted in 1867 and allowed them to register proof of marriage prior to that date with the court clerks. Quakers and those having banns announced in a church remained exempt from the license law.

This situation changed when an 1886 law required signed applications for marriage licenses. The law specified that marriage application records contain name, residence, age, race, occupation, and marital status of each party; date of the application, sometimes date of the license and marriage; consent of the parents or guardians of minors; and signature of the applicant.

An 1890 law provided for the recording of marriages done by banns by requiring the ministers to file a certificate with the court clerk who would record the information.

Marriages by banns prior to 1890 can be found only in church records. The provisions for marriage by banns were repealed in 1941 and replaced with a requirement that all individuals obtain licenses. 

Hidden History - Queen Anne's County

Marriage Licenses Recorded in the Court of the Eastern Shore by Queen Anne’s County Clerk, Samuel Turbutt Wright for 1^st April 1787 through 1^st August 1788 at the September Term 1790. As they appear.

John Hindman and Esther Nicholson                              1 April 1787

William Tucker and Hannah Nabb                                  1 April 1787

John Keyton and Mary Pronson                                       28 April 1787

Thomas Wright and Martha Price                                   28 April 1787

William Seth and Martha Trial                                         30 April 1787

Jeremiah Garland and (blank)                                          1 June 1787

James Pindar and Eliza Legg                                             10 Sept 1787

Jacob Seth and Ann Reynolds                                           17 Sept 1787

Emory Sudler Jr. and Eliza Wright                                  16 Sept 1787

James Price and Eliza Besswicks                                       21 Sept 1787

William Moore and Lucy Phomalon                               16 Nov 1787

William Richmond and Eliza Tute                                   26 Nov 1787

William Camper and Eliza Frazier                                  27 Nov 1787

William Brown and Eliza Brown                                     4 Dec 1787

James Hall and Sarah Pratt                                                7 Dec 1787

John Gooding and Lucretia Goodman                            18 Dec 1787

Edward Rogers Jr. and Sarah Noble                                16 Dec 1787

David Jones and Eliza Darickson                                     9 Dec 1787

Denton Carroll and Eliza Winslow                                 20 Dec 1787

Lodman Downes and Eliza Dodd                                     21 Dec 1787

James Vinson and Eliza Butler                                          22 Dec 1787

Charles Seth and Sarah Seth                                              6 Jan 1788

John Camper and Eliza Glass                                            14 Jan 1788

Daniel Harwood and Mary Gooling                               29 Jan 1788

William Bourk and Dorcas Rich                                       21 Jan 1788

Jeremiah Barnaclow and Ann Emerson                          8 Feb 1788

James Price and Eliza Besswicke                                      8 Feb 1788

Aaron Low and Priscilla Burgess                                     18 Feb 1788

William Lee and Eliza Tarbutton                                     13 Feb 1788

James (blank) and Ann Bush                                             21 Feb 1788

Solomon Clayton Jr. and Mary Willson                         25 Feb 1788

Charles Nabb and Sarah Hargadine                                22 March 1788

Barnaba Sinnett and Mary Cucel                                      13 March 1788

William Harper and Sarah Kent                                      8 April 1788

John Imbert and Ann Murphy                                          10 April 1788

Matthew Greentree and Sarah Hartley                           16 April 1788

Charles Collins and Eliza Harrison                                29 April 1788

Joshua Kennard and Margaret Price                                14 May 1788

John King Downes and Letittia Emory                           15 May 1788

Jonathan Buckley and Ann Scrivenor                              16 May 1788

Solomon Wright of Edward and Eliza Hall                   6 June 1788

Henry Phenix and Ann Meeds                                          7 June 1788

George Porter and Priscilla Jenkins                                 17 June 1788

James Glanding and Mary Berridge                                21 June 1788

Thomas Hewitt and Catharine McClain                         25 June 1788

Robert Walters and Ann OBryon                                     28 June 1788

Charles Price and Eliza Vickers                                        1 July 1788

John Williams and Eliza Wood                                        11 July 1788

John Waters and Rebecca Price                                        23 July 1788

Thomas Gadd and Ann Baynard                                       26 July 1788

Robert Bostick and Lucreatia Scrivenor                          21 July 1788

Benjamin Deford and Rache Ripper                                 21 July 1788

Vincent Glanding and Jemima Fisher                             28 July 1788

William Mattix (or Attix) and Sarah Tompkins             30 July 1788

Christopher Cox and Ann Kent                                        30 July 1788

Hidden History - Easton

White Chimnies 

Somewhere in the vicinity indicated by red lines lies hidden the part of Talbot County referred to as "White Chimneys" that adjoined the town of Easton.  There is very little written word to remind us of it's existence. I haven't found the least bit of information as to why it was called that, which is the most interesting part.  Was there a home with more than one white chimney, was there a group of houses with white chimneys, were the chimneys white or was the smoke white? Only questions remain.
The land records are the only clue of it's location, being mentioned now and then when a land tract adjoins "the White Chimneys" prior to the town expanding to include it within it's limits.

The only other place it has been found written, is of course the newspaper beginning in 1802 through 1840. Just enough of a mention to keep the mystery alive. 

Any theories or knowledge?

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1828

1837