Henry County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1778-1849

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, Henry County, Reel 37.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Henry County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1778-1849. Henry County Reel 37, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Henry County (Va.) Marriage Register and Index, 1778-1849. Henry County Reel 37, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Henry County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1778-1849, is essentially divided into two sections. The first section covering pages 1-149, 1778-1849, 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 151-196, 1781-1849, 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, 1778-1849, is a separate volume. This typescript index contains the first and last names of both parties. It is arranged alphabetically from A-Y and in addition, lists alternate spellings of last names.

Biographical / historical:

Henry County was formed in 1776 from Pittsylvania County. This county was named for Patrick Henry, revolutionary leader and first governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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 Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The microfilm copy of these volumes was generated by The Genealogical Society of Utah--while filming on-site at the Virginia State Library and Archives (now the Library of Virginia.)

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

The card index 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 Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. This index may have been used to create the original volume compilations.

Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical description:
4 vol. (618 p.) Barcodes 1146544-1146545 are negative photostatic copies. Barcodes 1123601-1123602 are original compilations. Barcodes 1150305, 1150307 refer to a separately created card index.