While in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, earlier this month, we
personally examined the marriage record for Washington Ellard Cagle and
Nancy Smith. The license was issued to "Elard" Cagle and Nancy Smith on
31st August 1867, but, as the clerk pointed out, the license was never
returned to the courthouse for recording so we don't know exactly when they
married - we only know when the license was issued. Marriage records in
Tennessee at that time didn't list parents of the bride and groom, nor did
it gave ages or occupations.
Their marriage license issuance is recorded in Marriage Book 1, Page 81,
held in the office of the County Clerk, McMinnville, Warren County,
Tennessee. We bought a copy of this page but the original page was very
pale and the copy is very faint.
Part of our problem in locating Tennessee records is that 51 courthouses
were burned 73 times and then Tennessee wasn't required to maintain vital
statistics until 1908.
Ellen and Cliff Rogers
Lufkin, TX