Augusta County was formed from Orange County by a statute of 1738 that stipulated that when the population was large enough the new county government would begin to function. The county court first met on 9 December 1745. The county was named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, who married Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, and was the mother of King George III.

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 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. Marriage by publication of banns was a public notice of an intended marriage that had to be published, verbally or by written notice, for three consective meetings at the churches of the bride and groom. This notice allowed the community to object to the union. Prior to 1848, banns were a legal substitute for a marriage license.

The original marriage records, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County Court.