Spotsylvania County (Va.) Marriages, 1795-1853

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

Summary

Creator:
Spotsylvania County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Spotsylvania County (Va.) Marriages, 1795-1853, is divided into two sections. The first section contains an unnumbered internal index to the volume (1795-1853.) The index is arranged alphabetically by the groom's name (A-W) according to the page number on which the name is found. The second section of the volume records the returns made by individual ministers, of various denominations, of marriages performed within the county. Some returns took the form of lists which record the date of the marriage and names of both parties. Other returns took the form of registers which record the date of the marriage license, the names of both parties and the return on the license--noting a specific date and according to the rites and ceremonies of a [specific] church or individual minister.

Biographical / historical:

Spotsylvania County was formed in 1720 from Essex, King William and King and Queen Counties. Spotsylvania County was named for Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1710 to 1722.

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.

Until 1780, marriages could be performed only by ministers of the Established Church, who were required by law to record marriages in the parish register. In 1780, dissenting ministers (only four per county from each sect) were first permitted to perform marriage ceremonies. Ministers' returns were required by law beginning in 1780, so all marriages from that date would be of record in the county court clerk's office--thereby creating an official record. Some ministers addopted a custom of making collected returns--a list of marriages performed within a period of time such as a year or several years.

The marriage record of Spotsylvania County (Va.) described in this collection was created by the County Court.

Created by an act of 1720 to take effect on May 1, 1721. Many loose county court papers prior to 1839, when the courthouse moved from Fredericksburg to Spotsylvania Courthouse, are missing. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist. The district court, superior court, and circuit court records of Spotsylvania County from 1813 to 1889 are in Fredericksburg.

Acquisition information:
This negative photostatic copy was created by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original volume found in the Spotsylvania County (Va.) Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The microfilm copy of this record was generated by The Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Branch. A duplicate copy of this reel, Reel 70, is also found in the Library's microfilm collection.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 vol. (61 leaves) This volume is a negative photostatic copy.