Petersburg (Va.) Marriage Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Ministers' Returns, 1784-1871

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:
Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Petersburg (Va.) Marriage Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Ministers' Returns, 1784-1871, record the following information: name of minister, name of church the minister served, name of bride and groom, date of marriage, race of bride of groom, and date marriage was submitted to court by minister or license issued by court.

Biographical / historical:

Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. A garrison and fur trading post called Fort Henry was established there in 1645 on the site of the Indian town Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd (1674-1744), honors Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added to Petersburg. It was incorporated as a city in 1850.

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:
Original records transferred to the Library of Virginia from the circuit court of Petersburg under accession number 52919.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3.15 cu.ft. (7 boxes), 10 microfilm reels