Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Bonds, 1810-1816

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:

No microfilm copy available. Volume is available to the public.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Marriage Bonds, 1810-1816. Local Government Records Collection, Caroline County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Marriage Bonds, 1810-1816. Local Government Records Collection, Caroline County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Marriage Bonds, 1810-1816, records the bonds of marriage between a bride and groom within the county. This volume also includes marriage consents.

Biographical / historical:

Caroline County was formed in 1728 from Essex, King and Queen and King William counties. Additional parts of King and Queen county were added in 1742 and 1762. It was named for Caroline of Anspach, consort of George II.

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.

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.

Acquisition information:

The original volume was compiled and created by the Virginia State Library's(now the Library of Virginia)Archives Division from the original court records found in the Caroline County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

The negative photostatic copy was created by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original compilation.

Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical description:
2 vol. Barcode 1104911 is a negative photostatic copy (224 p.) and Barcode 1130315 is a volume composed of original marriage bonds and consents.