Goochland County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1730-1853

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:

Use microfilm copy, Goochland County, Reel 38.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Goochland County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1730-1853. Goochland County Reel 38, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Goochland County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1730-1853. Goochland County Reel 38, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Marriage Register, 1730-1853, is essentially divided into two sections. The first section covering pages 1-312, 1730-1819, records the date of the marriage bond, the names of both parties, the names of the parents or guardians present and the names of the security or witnesses in attendance. The second section covering pages 313-392, 1787-1853, records the date of the marriage, the names of both parties, the minister's name and the religious denomination of the minister.

An Index to Marriage Register, 1730-1853, is a separate volume. This typed index contains the first and last names of both parties. It is arranged alphabetically from A-Y and in addition, lists alternate spellings of both first and last names.

There are at least two marriages between free persons of color--on pages 127 and 389. Entries on pages 391 and 392 (1853) include some additional information such as the husband's occupation, the ages of the couple and the father of the bride's occupation. A wonderful cross-reference is found on pages 393-399. There is a list of marriages copied from ministers' returns, 1785-1793, found in deed books (Numbers 15 and 16) and an order book (Number 19) for the county. In addition, the last page of the volume (p. 400) records the dates of marriage and the names of both parties in ceremonies (1788-1793) performed by one minister in particular.

Biographical / historical:

Goochland County was formed in 1728 from Henrico County. It was named for Sir William Gooch, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749.

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:

The original volumes were compiled by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original court records found in the Goochland County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The microfilm copy of these volumes was generated by The Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Branch.

The negative photostatic copies were created by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original compilations.

Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical description:
4 vol. (1152 p.) Barcodes 1146505-1146506 are negative photostatic copies. Barcodes 1107260 and 1107298 are original compilations.