James Prestley Waits (1904-1980) Marriage

Question

Seeking a marriage record for James Prestley Waits (1904-1980) of Jefferson County, Alabama. On 23 October 1942 he enlisted in the Army at Fort McClellan, Calhoun County, Alabama and was, at that time, divorced with no dependents. He can not be located in the 1930 census but was living with his father (Major Prestley Waits) and siblings in the Bessemer, AL area according to the 1920 census. The family also lived in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama from about 1928 until 1938. It is possible that James Prestley Waits (or Waites) married in Etowah County or Jefferson County, Alabama. He married, for the second time, on 26 March 1950 in Birmingham, Alabama. Calhoun County, Alabama is another possible marriage location.

Answer 1

Have you tried going to the court houses in these counties and trying to find out if they keep records from that long ago. Also what about going to Fort McClellan and finding out if they have any records of that nature.

Good Luck with your search!

Answer 2

I'm finding just 2 records, but don't think this first one could be him unless he lived a LONG LONG time (!):

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

about James Waits

Name: James Waits

Gender: male

Birth Place: SC

Birth Year: 1796

Spouse Name: Elizabeth Warbington

Marriage State: AL

Number Pages: 1

I believe you had this one already...

Alabama Marriage Collection, 1800-1969

about James P Waits

Name: James P Waits

Marriage Date: 26 Mar 1950

County: Jefferson

State: Alabama

Source information: Alabama Center for Health Statistics

edit- I assume you don't have the name of the first wife?

Within the Alabama Marriage Collection, 1800-1969, I've looked for J P Wait/es, James P, James, and every Waits and Waites whose first name started with a J.  I'm not finding any other possibilities.

Answer 3

You may want to search for church records in the county where he lived at the time. I have found google books has a lot of old, out of print books, including church and county records.

There is a public tree on ancestry dot com with your James Prestley Waits having married Grace Emily Lindsley 26 Mar 1950. Although this tree indicated she was the only spouse.