Newport News Marriage Licenses, 1900-1912

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:
Newport News (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Newport News Marriage Licenses, 1900-1912 include the following information: name of husband, name of wife, date license recorded in circuit court, date of marriage, place of marriage, full names of husband and wife, race, ages of husband and wife, condition of groom and bride at time of marriage (single, widowed, or divorced), place of birth (husband and wife), place of residence (husband and wife), names of parents (husband and wife), and occupation of husband. The marriage licenses also include marriage certificates signed by ministers who officiated the marriage. Information found in certificates includes name of minister, name of religious denomination, date certificate returned to courthouse, and signature of minister. The back of the license includes the page number and line number the marriage was recorded in the marriage register.

Biographical / historical:

Newport News was located in Warwick County, which is now extinct. The origin of the name is uncertain but the phrase "Newportes News" appeared in documents as early as 1619 and probably commemorated Christopher Newport, who made five voyages to Virginia between 1607 and 1619. Newport News was a small settlement until late in the nineteenth century, when it became the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. It was established in 1880 and incorporated as a city by act of the General Assembly in 1896 without ever having been incorporated as a town. Newport News was enlarged by consolidation with the city of Warwick in 1858.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Newport News (City) Circuit Court under the accession number 43558.
Arrangement:

Arrangement is chronological by date of marriage, then alphabetical by surname.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
7.65 cu. ft. (17 boxes)