Finding Maiden Names

Finding Maiden Names

Source. Thisnthat Trivia, Geocities

Finding Maiden Names:

In the lower left-hand corner of most deeds, you will find signatures of two to four witnesses. The first one is always from the husband's side. The next one is always from the wife's side. This is to protect her 1/3 dower right under the law. Nothing you will ever use will give greater clues to maiden names than witnesses to old deeds!

Also in the 1800's and before, it was traditional when the daughter got married, as part of her dowry, the father either covered the loan or carried the note for his son-in-law. If you know the husband's name but not the wife's maiden name and you can find out to whom they were making their mortgage payments, about 70% of the time it was her father.

One additional source, obviously, are marriage bonds. In many cases, they will list the parent of either the bride or groom, and sometimes you get luckey and it will list both! Don't forget when searching through marriage books, check out the marriage bond book also. Some have even listed the bride as the step-daughter of.... very helpful when trying to identify which child belonged to which father, especially if the wife's first husband died, and a brother of the deceased married her. (which was not uncommon.)

This also happens a lot when the wife dies. A sister will marry the husband to care for her sister's children.


You are our [an error occurred while processing this directive] visitor -- thanks for stopping by!

Friday, 11-Mar-2005 11:14:12 MST

James D. Small

Copyright � 2001

All Rights Reserved

Want to get in touch with me? Email me! Jim Small

Information on these pages may be used for non-commercial use but cannot be reproduced in ANY format for profit.

Web page Design - Jim Small � 1999 � 2000

Thanks to ROOTSWEB Genealogical Data Cooperative for Server Space