Henrico County (Va.) Register of Licenses for Marriage, 1850-1862

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

Creator:
Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Henrico County (Va.) Register of Licenses of Marriage, 1850-1862, records all marriage licenses, A-Z, for the mid-19th century obtained from the county clerk by residents of the county. Along with the date of the license, the names of the intended are also included. There are blank pages between each letter of the alphabet for additional listings. One marriage with the last name Isbell is listed with marriages beginning with the letter J (under the index beginning with the letter I.) Marriages between free persons of color are noted with parentheses from 1850-1862.

Biographical / historical:

Henrico County was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I.

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.

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

Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.

Acquisition information:
This original volume came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Henrico County.
Arrangement:

The volume is arranged alphabetically by intended groom's surname and also chronologically by month, day and year of marriage license.

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