Lancaster County (Va.) Marriage Bonds, 1701, 1715-1848

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Marriage Bonds Number 1-5, 1701, 1715-1748, record the bonds of marriage between a bride and groom within the county. These volumes also include marriage consents made by a parent or guardian.

Biographical / historical:

Lancaster County was formed from Northumberland and York Counties in 1651. It was probably named for the English county.

Prior to 1853, when the Commonwealth began recording vital statistics, Virginia marriages were recorded at the county or city level. Beginning in 1661, in order to be married by license, the groom was required to go before the county clerk and give bond with security that there was no lawful reason to prevent the marriage. The license issued then by the clerk was given to the minister who performed the service. Written consent from a parent or guardian was needed for individuals younger than twenty-one years.

Acquisition information:

The original records, 1133863-1133867, were transferred from the Lancaster County Circuit Court Clerk's Office to the Virginia State Library's Archives Division (now the Library of Virginia's Local Records Branch.)

The negative photostatic copies were compiled and created by the Virginia State Library`s (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division, under the accession numbers 26541-26545, from the original court records.

The microfilm copies were generated in-house by the Virginia State Library's Microfilm Section.

Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical description:
5 boxes (2.25 cu. ft.) These boxes contain original marriage bonds; 5 vol. (1365 p.) These volumes are negative photostatic copies; 18 microfilm reels.