Mecklenburg County (Va.) Ministers' Returns, Marriage Licenses and Index, 1785-1842
- Creator
- Mecklenburg County (Va.) Circuit Court.
- Abstract Or Scope
-
Mecklenburg County (Va.) Ministers' Returns, Marriage Licneses and Index, 1785-1842, records the returns made by individual ministers of marriages performed within the county. Whether single or in the form of lists, these returns record the date of the marriage and the names of both parties. Single returns mentioned the location of the marriage and sometimes the minister's denomination. This volume also contains marriage licenses prepared by the county clerk and presented to the minister who would perform the ceremony. These signed documents "authorized and licensed" or "licensed and permitted" the ministers to perform the actual marriage ceremonies. The license indicated to the minister and the public that there were no impediments to the marriage. These licenses were intermixed with the ministers' returns from 1832-1842 (pages 105-164.) There are some interesting notes found in the back of the volume. On page 27, there is a record of a marriage (1799) between slaves Thomas and Mary owned by Sir Peyton Skipwith. Page 47 records the marriage (1811) between Thomas Hill & Fanny R. Baptist, the parents of notable Confederate General A. P. Hill. In 1822, page 76, is a marriage of free coloured persons William Kersey and Margaret Ivey.
- Collection Context