In the lower left-hand corner of most deeds, you will find signatures of two to four
witnesses. The first one is always from the husband's side. The next one is always from
the wife's side. This is to protect her 1/3 dower right under the law. Nothing you will
ever use will give greater clues to maiden names than witnesses to old deeds!
Also in the 1800's and before, it was traditional when the daughter got married, as part
of her dowry, the father either covered the loan or carried the note for his son-in-law.
If you know the husband's name but not the wife's maiden name and you can find out to whom
they were making their mortgage payments, about 70% of the time it was her father.
One additional source, obviously, are marriage bonds. In many cases, they will list the parent of either the bride or groom, and sometimes you get luckey and it will list both! Don't forget when searching through marriage books, check out the marriage bond book also. Some have even listed the bride as the step-daughter of.... very helpful when trying to identify which child belonged to which father, especially if the wife's first husband died, and a brother of the deceased married her. (which was not uncommon.)
This also happens a lot when the wife dies. A sister will marry the husband to care for her sister's children.
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