HELP - MARRIAGES - VITAL EVENTS

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Instructions - Marriage Registration Index

General Instructions

This is a large database containing over 187,000 names (brides and grooms). It contains all events that were registered with the central Vital Statistics Agency. If any event was, for whatever reason, not registered, it will not appear in the index database.

For quick searching and trouble free down loading from this database be as specific as possible with search criteria. The default number of matches displayed is set at the first 25 records. If you do not find the marriage registration that you are looking for in the first 25 matches you can reset the default limit to a higher number. The total number of matches is displayed above the list of retrieved records. If that number is above 200 you should try more restrictive search criteria.

If you intend to request information from the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency or view the actual registration documents on microfilm, write down the following information from your search results:

Registration number (reg. number): This is the number that was assigned to the records by Vital Statistics at the time of registration. Records are usually in registration number sequence on microfilm reels.
BC Archives microfilm number: This is the number BC Archives assigned to the microfilm reel containing the registration record. The same numbering system will be used by any other library or organization holding sets of the microfilm.
GSU Microfilm Number: This is the number given to the microfilm reel by the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) for use in its Family History Centres throughout the world.

How to search this database

You may enter search criteria in one or more fields. Once you have entered all of your search criteria, go to the bottom of the form and choose how you want the search results sorted, for example by surname, year, or event place.
The number of matches displayed is set at 25, but you can increase that number up to 200.
Select the reset button if you want to clear the search form and re-enter data.
To proceed with the search, select do search button. The total number of matches will be displayed at the top of the list of retrieved records.
At the end of the list of retrieved records is the search form with your original search criteria (note however, that the "match criteria" have returned to the default settings).
You may change the search criteria as you wish, then select "do search" to do another search.
Alternatively, select the "blank form" button to create a new blank form.

You may enter search criteria into one or more of the fields. The more fields used, the more restrictive your search becomes. For example, searching by only the groom or bride surname Smith will retrieve far more matches than searching by the surname Smith, the given name Mary, the years 1900-1905, and the event place Vancouver.

Each field has associated search criteria. The default setting, match exactly, means that every string of characters must match the data in that field exactly, no more and no less. Partial match allows you to enter part of a name. For example, entering doug in either of the surname fields, and selecting partial match for that field, will match all records containing the data string "doug". This will retrieve the following surname records:

Dougall
Dougen
Dougherty
Douglas
McDougal
McDougall
MacDougall

Exclude allows you to make a search of names that omits the information entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.

Groom Surname

You may enter any groom's surname (last name) in this field. The name may be searched on its own or in combination with a groom's given name, a bride's surname and/or given name, or in combination with any other fields. Searching by a very common surname, such as Smith, without restricting the search by some other criteria will result in a large number of matches. Over time, surnames with an apostrophe (e.g. O'Brien) and/or several parts (e.g. St. James or de Boer) have been entered into the index database with different punctuation and spacing. For such names, omit apostrophes, periods, hyphens and/or spaces (e.g. OBrien, StJames, deBoer, etc.).

Match exactly means that every string of characters must match the data in that field exactly, no more and no less. Partial match allows you to enter part of a name. For example, entering doug in the groom surname field, and selecting partial match for that field, will match all records with the data string "doug". This will retrieve the following names :

Dougall
Dougen
Dougherty
Douglas
McDougal
McDougall
MacDougall

Exclude allows you to make a search of names that excludes the surname entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.

Groom Given Name(s)

You may enter one or more of a groom's given names in this field. The system allows you to search on a given name without a groom's surname or other criteria, but the number of matches retrieved will likely be too large to be useful. It is most useful to search given names in combination with surnames and/or some other field that will limit the number of matches retrieved.

Match exactly means that every character entered into the field must match that field exactly in the database, no more and no less. Partial match enables searching when you are not sure if a person was registered with more than one given name or with a short or long version of a name (e.g. John, Jon, or Jonathan), or when you are not sure of the spelling of a given name. It also means that a name will be retrieved whether it is a first, second, or third given name. You can also use part of a name such as "jo" and retrieve such names as John, Jonathan, Joseph, and Johnson. It is recommended that you do a partial match search on given names or, if this is not successful, leave out the given names and use surname only.

Exclude allows you to make a search of names that excludes the given name entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.

Bride Surname

You may enter any surname (last name) in this field. Generally, registrations recorded the bride's birth surname (maiden name). In some cases, registrations may also be indexed by a bride's previous married surname(s). The name may be searched on its own or in combination with a bride's given name, a groom's surname and/or given name, or any in combination with any other field or fields. Searching by a very common surname, such as Smith, without limiting the search by some other criteria will result in a large number of matches. Over time, surnames with an apostrophe (e.g. O'Brien) and/or several parts (e.g. St. James or de Boer) have been entered into the index database with different punctuation and spacing. For such names, omit apostrophes, periods, hyphens and/or spaces (e.g. OBrien, StJames, deBoer, etc.).

Match exactly means that every string of characters must match the data in that field exactly, no more and no less. Partial match allows you to enter part of a name. For example, entering doug in the bride surname field, and selecting partial match for that field, will match all records with the data string "doug". This will retrieve the following names :

Dougall
Dougen
Dougherty
Douglas
McDougal
McDougall
MacDougall

Bride Given Name(s)

You may enter one or more of a bride's given names in this field. The system allows you to search on a given name without a bride's surname or other criteria, but the number of matches retrieved will likely be too large to be useful. It is most useful to search given names in combination with surnames and/or some other field that will limit the number of matches retrieved.

Match exactly means that every string of characters must match the data in that field, no more and no less. Partial match enables searching when you are not sure if a person was registered with more than one given name or with a short or long version of a name (e.g. Sue or Susan), or when you are not sure of the spelling of a given name. It also means that a name will be retrieved whether it is a first, second, or third given name. You can also use only part of a name such as "ca" and retrieve such names as Rebecca , Caroline, Cathers, Carrie, Cass, and Catriona.

Registration Number

This is the number that was assigned to the record by the Vital Statistics Agency at the time of registration.

For search purposes, this field is only useful if you know the exact registration number and correct format. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff, therefore it is normally best to leave this field blank.

This field can be used to retrieve a registration by its registration number. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registration with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations with numbers greater than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations with numbers less than the number entered.

Choosing range allows you to search for a range of registration numbers. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.

Year or Year Range

In this field you may enter any year between 1872 and the current release year. You may also enter a range of years, for example 1872 to 1910. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all marriages for a particular year, or range of years, or in combination with other fields. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.

Match exactly means that you will only retrieve marriages for the year entered. Select greater than to retrieve all matches for years later than the entered year. Less than means that all matches will be for years earlier than the entered year.

Month

In this field you may enter any number from 1 to 12 representing the months of the year. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all marriages for a particular month but be careful, you will retrieve a very large number of matches. It is best used in combination with other criteria.

Match exactly means that the month for all records will match the entered month exactly. Select greater than to retrieve all matches for months later than the entered month. Less than means that all matches will be for months earlier than the entered month.

Day

In this field you may enter any number from 1 to 31 for the day of the month. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all marriages for a particular day of the month but be careful, you will retrieve a very large number of matches. It is best used in combination with other criteria.

Match exactly means that you will only retrieve marriages for the day entered. Select Greater than to retrieve all matches for days later than the entered day. Less than means that all matches will be for days earlier than the entered day.

Event Place

In this field you may enter the name of any city, town, municipality, district, or Indian Reserve in British Columbia. Some place names in British Columbia have changed over time. The event place names on the registrations, and in this index, are the ones that were used at the time of the marriage. For some early place names it may be necessary to consult atlases and gazetteers for the names used during the dates in question.

The default setting for this field is "partial match" which allows you to enter part of a name and retrieve all names containing that string of letters, or to retrieve place names with more than one word in the name. For example, by entering George you will retrieve marriages for both Prince George and its earlier name Fort George. If you enter Vancouver you will retrieve marriages for Vancouver, South Vancouver, North Vancouver, and North Vancouver District.

Match exactly means that all records will match the entered place name exactly, letter for letter. Exclude allows you to make a search that excludes the place name entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will get an error message.

BC Archives Microfilm Number

This is the number BC Archives assigned to the microfilm reel containing the registration record.

This field is only useful if you know the exact BC Archives microfilm number. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is best to leave this field blank.

This field can be used to retrieve registrations contained on a particular reel of microfilm or range of microfilm reels. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registrations included on the BC Archives microfilm reel with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations included on BC Archives microfilm reels with numbers higher than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations included on BC Archives microfilm reels with numbers lower than the number entered.

Choosing range allows you to search for all the marriages found on a range of microfilm reels. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.

GSU Microfilm Number

This is the number given to the microfilm reel by the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) for use in its Family History Centres throughout the world.

This field is only useful if you know the exact GSU microfilm reel number. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is best to leave this field blank.

This field can be used to retrieve registrations contained on a particular reel of GSU microfilm or range of microfilm reels. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registrations included on the GSU microfilm reel with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations contained on GSU microfilm reels with numbers higher than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations contained on GSU microfilm reels with numbers lower than the number entered.

Choosing range allows you to search for all the marriages found on a range of microfilm reels. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.

Sorting

You can choose to sort your search results in ascending order by any one of the fields on the search form by selecting the desired field in this list. The default sort criteria is "no sort" which provides the fastest response time.

Limiting Number of Matches

This field allows you to select the number of matches that will be displayed. At the top of the match list will be shown the total number of matches found. This may be far greater than the number displayed.

The default setting is the first 25. You can change the setting to 50, 100, 200. If the number of matches retrieved is over 200 you should adjust your search criteria.

Exceptions

The only persons excluded from registration under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act of 1872 were Chinese and Aboriginals (referred to in the legislation and registrations as Indians). This was changed by an amendment in 1897 (SBC 1897, c. 33, s. 3) which stated that the Act would apply to all races including all Aboriginals, Chinese and Japanese. However, the Act was amended in 1899 (SBC 1899, c. 8, s. 3) to once again exclude Aboriginals from provincial registration. This continued until the Act was amended again in 1916 (SBC 1916, c. 73, s. 3.2) to authorize the registration of Aboriginals, which began in 1917 with Indian Agents submitting registrations monthly. Special forms for "Indian registrations" were discontinued after 1956.


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