Parents named in 1868 marriage license in North Carolina!

Finding proof of parentage is a challenge in North Carolina prior to 1913 because birth and death certificates were not required until 1913.  I stumbled across an amazing marriage license in 1868 which names the parents of both the bride and groom!  This is not the only one – several marriage licenses from this time frame list the parents.  Apparently, the clerk of court decided to do this.  Thanks, R.M. Smith!

 

Transcription:

State of North Carolina }  To any regular Minister

                Wilkes County }  of the gospel of whatever

Denomination or any Justice of the Peace of the said County

Greetings you or Either of you are hereby authorized and em-

powered to solemnize the rites of Matrimony between

John Wesley Bumgarner son of John Bumgarner and

Emeline Bumgarner and Martha Adams daughter of

Solomon Adams and Franky Adams and join

them together as man and wife all of these are

Whites  Witness R.M. Smith clerk of the county court at

office in Wilkesborough this 13^th day of Feb in the

92^nd year of American Independence A.D. 1868

                          by J.W. Church, D. Clk [Deputy Clerk]

 

Source:

North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, Provo, UT, USA; license authorizing the marriage of John Wesley Bumgarner and Martha Adams, 12 Mar 1868, Wilkes County, NC.