of the minister to whom the license was directed. The record was kept very carefully because
each clerk was required to account for the fees he received in payment for the licenses. No
indication is given as to whether the marriage was ever performed.

In 1865, an act was passed providing for the registration of births, marriages and deaths
(Chapter 130, Acts of 1865). It was made the duty of the clerks of the circuit court for the
several counties and the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Baltimore City to record this
information in specially prepared books that were furnished them by the Secretary of the
Senate. The Record of Marriages was to give the date and place of marriage, name, residence
and official station of the minister, name, age, color, residence, marital status and occupation
of each party, and date of record. This record was indifferently kept in some counties and the
Act was eventually repealed in 1882.

The systematic registration of marriages was finally accomplished by the passage of
Chapter 497 of the Acts of 1886. The information given is essentially the same as required
by the Act of 1865 with the addition of the date the license was issued.

APPLICATIONS FOR MARRIAGE LICENSES (AFFIDAVITS OF APPLICANTS)

Record of names, places of residence, ages, color and relationship, if any, of parties apply-
ing for marriage licenses as required by Chapter 497 of the Acts of 1886.

RECORD OF BIRTHS

Register of births recorded under the provisions of Chapter 130 of the Acts of 1865; gives
date and place of birth, name of child, sex, color, names of parents, father's occupation and
date of recording. In most counties, this record was poorly kept.

RECORD OF DEATHS

Register of deaths recorded under the provisions of Chapter 130 of the Acts of 1865; gives
date of death, name, sex, color, marital status, age, residence, occupation, place of death, place
of birth, parents' names, residence of parents, cause of death, place of burial and date of
recording. Usually contains only a few entries.

ELECTION RETURNS (RECORD OF ELECTION RETURNS)

Record of returns of elections transmitted to the clerks of the circuit courts or the Clerk
of the Superior Court of Baltimore City as required by law (Section 76, Chapter 202, Acts
of 1896).

REGISTER OF INTENDED VOTERS (REGISTER OF INTENT, RECORD OF IN-
TENT TO BECOME CITIZENS, CITIZENSHIP RECORDS)

Register of persons declaring their intent to become residents of Maryland (Chapter 133,
Acts of 1902; Chapter 540, Acts of 1916). The law requiring such declaration was repealed
by Chapter 421 of the Acts of 1949.

AFFIDAVITS OF TEMPORARY REMOVAL (AFFIDAVITS OF PERSONS LEAVING
STATE TEMPORARILY, DECLARATION OF VOTERS TO RETURN TO STATE)

Record of affidavits filed by persons leaving the state temporarily, asserting they do not
intend thereby to change their legal residence and declaring their intent to return to the State
on or before six months preceding the next November election (Chapter 2, Acts of 1901;

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