Collections : [Library of Virginia]

Caroline County (Va.) Commonwealth versus Richard Perry Loving and Mildred Delores Jeter, 1958-1966, contains the documentation of the criminal case against "Richard Loving, a white person, and Mildred Jeter, a Negro, who did unlawfully and feloniously go out of this state for the purpose of being married, and with the intention of returning, and were married out of it, and afterwards, returned and resided in it, cohabiting as man and wife" in violation of Virginia state laws that prohibited marriages between whites and African Americans. The documents include principally the arrest warrants of Loving and Jeter, the true bill returned by the grand jurors, the indictment for a felony, the motion of the Lovings to vacate judgment and set aside the sentence, the opinion of Judge Leon M. Bazile, the order denying the defendants' motion to vacate judgment and set aside their sentence, the Lovings' notice of appeal and assignments of error, and copies of the birth certificates for both Loving and Jeter. Various other documents include notices and other documents relating to the Lovings' appeals and other cases brought to the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. There is a brief index at the beginning of the case. The case does not contain any depositions or trial transcripts.

Deed Book, 1758-1845, of Caroline County Court. The deed book records the name of the grantor and grantee, the county of residence of both individuals and the description of property being sold or transferred. It also contains the first and last names of both parties and is arranged alphabetically from A-Z.

Marriage Bonds, 1810-1816, records the bonds of marriage between a bride and groom within the county. This volume also includes marriage consents.

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.) Orders, 1862-1863, are court orders from the county court of various business conducted before the court such as the appointment of officials, the county levy, lists of insolvents, adminstrator's bonds, proving of wills, the purchase of salt for the county, reports of runaway slaves housed in the jail, overseer of the poor meetings and other county business. The information is recorded by court meeting date. There is no index.

Caroline County (Va.) Register of Children of Colored Persons in Caroline County, State of Virginia, whose Parents had ceased to cohabit on 27th February, 1866, which the Father recognizes to be his. Also commonly called Caroline County (Va.) Cohabitation Register. The register lists the name of the child, age, place of birth, residence, last owner, residence of the last owner, residence of father, his age and last owner, residence of last owner of father, name of mother, her age, her residence if alive or noted if dead, last owner of mother, residence of last owner of mother, and the signature of the father. There is no index.

Caroline County (Va.) Register of Colored Persons of Caroline County, State of Virginia, cohabiting together as Husband and Wife on 27th February 1866. Also commonly called Caroline County (Va.) Cohabitation Register. This register records the name of the husband, his age, place of birth, residence, occupation, last owner, last owner's residence, name of the wife, her age, place of birth, residence, last owner, last owner's residence, name of children whith the ages of each, and the date of commencement of cohabitation. There is no index.