If your ancestor died and you don't know exactly when, you will find this a useful aid. You may also want to check with a state archive to see if a death index is in existence if your state is not listed below. While you are waiting for that death certificate to arrive in the mail, you may wish to check for an obituary on your ancestor. You can access obituaries from your local public library. The Gale Directory of Publications has more current newspapers.
Most states also have a bibliography of newspapers.
It may list places of where the deceased lived, and may even give you a time line. It may include the ancestor's occupation and how long in that occupation. Sometimes, you will find an article in the newspaper about the deceased, especially if your ancestor was prominent, or possibly died in a tragedy. The license gives lot of genealogical information, but it doesn't prove the marriage. Also, getting a photocopy from the church marriage books could give the town, particularly if they married in a Portuguese community.