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Marriage Records, 1786-1853, are comprised of two major record categories--marriage registers and marriage bonds--found in four volumes (Parts 1-4.) The first volume (Part 1) covering pages 1-165, 1786-1853, is divided into three separate sections with marriage registers and marriage bonds. Pages 1-39, 1795-1844, record 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. Pages 41-53, 1852-1853, record the same information as found in the first forty pages but also includes the name of the minister who performed the marriage ceremony. Pages 53-54 record the same information found in the first forty pages and note additonal register entries for 1819. Pages 55- 58, 1797- 1851, record the date of the marriage, the names of both parties, the minister's name and the religious denomination of the minister. Another section of this volume, covering pages 59-107, is an alphabetized (A-Y) and chronological (by month and year) register of all parties married and by whom they were married from 1786-1853. The last section of this volume, covering pages 108-165, records marriage bonds from 1821-1824.

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.