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Caroline County (Va.) Ministers' Returns, 1796-1852, records the returns made by individual ministers of marriages performed within the county. The majority of returns are in the form of lists which record the date of marriage and names of both parties. In the process of preparing and sending the returns, the name of the minister and the minister's denomination are also recorded. 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.

Caroline County (Va.) Marriage Bonds, Certificates and Consents Nos. 1-3, 1795-1860, record the original bonds of marriage between a bride and groom within the county. These volumes also contain original marriage consents and marriage certificates issued by individual ministers. All original marriage bonds, certificates and consents found in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office were numbered chronologically and placed in the pages of three volumes by means of an adhesive. The staff likely undertook this procedure to try and preserve the original documents. Because of the adhesive technique used, it is possible to view the back of all these documents. Volume Numbers 1 (1795-1805, 1-251) and 2 (1805-1819, 252-464) were the only volumes originally microfilmed. Volume No. 3 (1819-1860, 465-633) was filmed at a later date by a different vendor.