APPENDIX No. IV.

INFORMATION AS TO MARRIAGE AND AGE OF MAJORITY; AND DIRECTIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THE EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

INFORMATION AS TO MARRIAGE.

Concerning the laws in force in the United States respecting marriages.

Occasions having arisen in which it was found desirable for the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States to possess information concerning the laws in force in the several States and Territories of the United States in relation to births and marriages, the Department has collected from the laws of several States and Territories the folowing information on the subject:

It is believed that the law is correctly stated herein, but the subject is not exhaustively treated, and Consular Officers will be particularly careful to observe the instructions given in paragraphs 383-390 of the Consular Regulations, with regard to marriages.

It will be observed, also, that a marriage may be valid, though the formalities prescribed by statute be not complied with. In most cases the statutes are merely directory.

NOTICE OF INTENTION.

Persons intending to be married must, before the marriage, apply for a license, or cause notice of their intention to be entered as follows:

(a) With the town clerk at their dwelling place, or where the marriage is celebrated, in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

(b) With the county clerk or clerk of superior court in county where the marriage is to take place, in Illinois, Iowa, Delaware, Arkansas, Texas, California, and Wyoming.

(c) With the clerk of the county where the woman resides, Minnesota and Oregon.

(d) Or where either of the parties resides, Kentucky and Nevada.

(e) Or if she be not a resident of the State of the county where the marriages is to take place, in Minnesota, or from any county clerk in the State, in Nevada and Colorado.

(f) With the recorder of deeds of the county where the marriage takes place, in North Carolina and Missouri.

(g) With the ordinary or register of probate of the county where the woman resides, in Georgia, Ohio, Kansas, and Alabama.

(h) With the auditor of the county where the marriage takes place, in Washington Territory.

(i) With the clerk of the circuit court, etc., of the county where the woman resides, Indiana, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida.

(j) With the clerk of the town where the man lives, or if he be a nonresident, where the woman lives, or if both be non-residents, where the marriage takes place, in Vermont.

(k) With the clerk of the orphans' court of the county where the marriage takes place, in Pennsylvania.

(1) With the probate judge of the county where the marriage takes place, in Nebraska.

(m) With a justice of the peace in New Orleans, or with the clerk of district court of parish where one party resides, in other parts of Louisiana, and in Dakota.

(n) With clerk of supreme court in District of Columbia.

LICENSE.

Licenses are required, and are granted upon notice of intention, etc., being filed, in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Washington Territory, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Dakota.

In States and Territories not mentioned above, under this or the preceding paragraph, no license is required.

RETURN OF MARRIAGE.

In the following States and Territories it is required that a return be made of all marriages:

(a) To the town clerks of the towns where the marriage was celebrated and where the parties resided, in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

(b) Supreme court clerk's office, in the District of Columbia.

(e) To the town clerk where the marriage was celebrated, in Maine, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, Oregon, Colorado, and Dakota.

(d) To the officer issuing the license, in Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Washington Territory, Georgia, New Mexico.

(e) To the recorder of deeds of the county where the marriage was solemnized, in Wisconsin, Delaware, North Carolina, Missouri, California, Nevada. Dakota, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona.

MARRIAGES MADE OUT OF THE STATE.

A certificate must be filed when they return, in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, and West Virginia.

AGE OF THE PARTIES.

A license can not be issued for the marriage of a male under twenty-one years of age, or a female under eighteen, except with the written consent of parents or guardians, in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, California, Wyoming, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

In the following States both parties must be twenty-one years of age: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida.

Concerning the laws in force in the United States respecting the age at which persons attain their majority.

Occasions having arisen in which it was found desirable for the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States to possess authentic information concerning the laws in force in the several States and Territories of the United States as to the age at which males and females, whether unmarried or married, attain their majority, the Department gives the following information:

(a) In all the States and Territories males and females who have reached the age of twenty-one years are held to have attained their majority for all purposes.

(b) In the following, a woman is of age at eighteen: Vermont, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Maryland, Missouri, Arkansas, California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington Territory, Dakota, and Idaho.

(e) In Maryland, Texas, and Oregon a married woman is considered to have reached her majority although she be under the lawful age.

(d) If she be married to a man of full age, in Washington Territory. (e) And if, being married, she be over sixteen years of age, in Nebraska. (f) In Iowa, Texas, and Louisiana, all minors, male or female, attain their majority by marriage.

(g) In Vermont and Pennsylvania (and possibly some other States) indentures of apprenticeship of females expire when they have reached eighteen years of age.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF PROCEEDS OF THE PROPERTY OF DECEASED SEAMEN TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

In remitting the proceeds of the property of deceased seamen to the district judges of the United States, Consular Officers are instructed to be guided by the following table. The drafts should be made payable "to