Macon County, North Carolina Marriages, 1829-1939

Macon County was formed in 1828 from Haywood county, and Haywood was formed in 1808 from Buncombe. Macon County is in the Western section of North Carolina and is bounded by the state of Georgia and Clay, Cherokee, Swain and Jackson Counties, N.C. This book contains approximately 7,000 marriages in this 110 years period and is arranged alphabetically by groom. An index of brides is included. Also included are the names of the clerks, registers, justices of the peace and ministers of the gospel who performed these ceremonies. On a marriage bond could be found the names of the groom and his bondsman, the bride, the witness and the date the bond was issued. The marriage may have taken place the same day or a week or more later. In 1868, bonds were discontinued, although marriage licenses and certificates had been issued for many years. Only after 1851 was the J.P. or minister required to return the license to the Clerk of the Court’s office. According to the 1868 law, the marriage licenses were to be kept in the Register of Deeds Office, and the age, race, residence, and place of marriage were to be recorded with the other information.