Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1852-1857

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
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1852-1857. Local government records collection, Caroline County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Caroline County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1852-1857. Local government records collection, Caroline County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1852-1857, includes an alphabetical and chronological listing of marriage licenses and consents issued in Caroline County. Included in these listings are the names of both parties and the date when the marriage license was issued. Individual consents are glued or paper clipped in the proper alphabetical and chronological order. An additional entry for the surname "C" is found on the last page of the volume. Intended marriages between "free negroes or free persons of color" ar noted--such as between Robert Nelson Freeman and Betsy Ann Studdy (with consent given for Miss Studdy) in March 1867.

Biographical / historical:

Caroline County was formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties on 1 May 1728, and additional parts of KIng and Queen County were added in 1742 and 1763. The county was named for Caroline of Anspach, wife of King George II.

Most loose records and deed books prior to 1836 and will books prior to 1853 were stolen, mutilated, and/or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse in May 1864. A near-complete run of order books exists.

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. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, officials were especially concerned about females under the age of 16 marrying without consent. County clerks were not authorized to issue a marriage license without certificate (permission) from the parent, master or guardian. In the nineteenth century, a parent or guardian could give consent verbally to the clerk of the court, or provide written consent in front of one or two witnesses; the consent was then delivered to the county clerk.

The original marriage records, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County Court.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers.
Arrangement:

Arranged alpabetically and chronologically by intended groom's surname.

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.