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by Susan L. King (Author)
The official marriage records of Charleston, South Carolina, date from 1877. This work contains "an alphabetical list of 2,958 white marriages contained in the Marriage Registers of Charleston." These records reveal a lot about the citizens of Charleston. "Surprisingly, in a city founded by English Protestants, the majority of marriages were performed by a Lutheran Clergyman, reflecting the large numbers of German immigrants in Charleston in the late 1870s and 1880s. More than 25% of those married were natives of Germany, Prussia, Hanover and other German states; however, the majority, 57%, were natives of Charleston." Entries typically include "the full names of the parties married, the time and place of such marriage, and the color, age, residence and condition of each." Occupations are listed for about 65% of the marriages.
