Prince Edward County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1859

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:

Use microfilm copy, Prince Edward County (Va.) Reel 41

Preferred citation:

Prince Edward County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1859. Prince Edward County (Va.) Reel 41, Local government records collection, Prince Edward County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

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

Prince Edward County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1859. Prince Edward County (Va.) Reel 41, Local government records collection, Prince Edward County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Prince Edward County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1859, records the date fo the marriage license by year, month and day and the names of both parties. Entries are listed alphabetically (A-Y) by the groom's surname. Additional information sometimes includes the date of the marriage certificate and by whom married as noted on the opposite page. Marriages between "free persons of color", 1851-1859, are noted in parentheses next to the parties names. Also noted in parentheses are the notice of consent by parent or guardian and sometimes the bride's parentage.

Biographical / historical:

Prince Edward County was formed from Amelia County in 1753. The county court first met on 8 January 1754. The county was named in honor of Edward Augustus, a son of Prince Frederick Louis, a grandson of King George II, and a younger brother of King George III.

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. Once the marriage service was performed, the minister submitted a return to the county clerk. Written consent from a parent or guardian was needed for individuals younger than twenty-one years.

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

Acquisition information:

This volume came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Prince Edward County.

This microfilm reel was generated by the Genealogical Society of Utah while filming in the Prince Edward County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically and chronologically.

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