Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copies, Southampton County (Va.) Reels 37 and 37a.

Preferred Citation

Southampton County (Va.) Marriage Registers and Index, 1750-1853. Southampton County (Va.) Reels 37 and 37a, Local government records collection, Southampton County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

The original volumes were compiled by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original county court records found in the Southampton County (Va.) Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Reel 37, containing the Index to the Marriage Register, was generated by The Genealogical Society of Utah--while filming on-site at the Library of Virginia. Reel 37a, containing the Marriage Register, Parts I and II, was generated by The Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Branch.

The negative photostatic copies were created by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original compilations (abstracts.)

Historical Information

Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County. Part of Nansemond County was added in 1785. Southampton County was named for the borough of Southampton in England.

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 then 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.

Scope and Content

Southampton County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1750-1853, is two separate volumes--labeled Part I and II. Part I covering pages 1-359, 1750-1826, records 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. Between 1800-1825, pages 137-354, there are numerous entries for marriages between "free persons of color"--sometimes also designated with FN for free negro. At the beginning of this volume, there is a contents list and notes for both volumes--such as variant spellings of first and last names are found in parentheses.

The second volume covering pages 360-624, 1826-1853, records the same information as the first volume. There are also, in this volume as well, numerous entries for marriages between "free persons of color"--dating from 1827-1850, pages 374-590. The remainder of the volume contains additional material: list of marriage bonds (p. 625) with no date and recorded alphabetically by the groom's surname; list of marriage consents (pp. 626-627) with no date and recorded alphabetically by the groom's surname; list of ministers' bonds (which celebrate the rites of matrimony) (1803, 1810) (pages 628-629) dating from and recorded chronologically; ministers' returns (which list the marriages celebrated) (pages 630-729) dating from 1781-1851 and recorded in semi-chronological order from a loose leaf list; list of ministers' returns (pages 730-732) dating from a volume (1816-1845) and recorded in chronological order; list of ministers' returns (pages 733-739) dating from a volume (1850-1853) and recorded in semi-chronological order. In this last section, there are also ministers' returns dating from 1845, 1847-1849. In addition, pages 625-739 include such information as the minister's name and the religious denomination of the minister. Pages 673-679 note when a marriage license or bond was obtained. Amongst these pages, there are numerous entries of marriages between "persons of free color"--dating from 1800-1853, pages 655-738. Of special note on page 638, there is an entry for a slave marriage (January 7th, 1786.)

An Index to Marriage Records, 1750-1853, is a separate volume. This index is arranged alphabetically from A-Y by the last and first names of both parties. Alternate spellings of last names are included with a "see" reference following the standard spelling. Variant spellings of names as well as aliases are found in parentheses.

Arrangement

Chronological and Alphabetical as noted.

Related Material

Additional Southampton County Marriage Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. See A Guide to County and City Records on microfilm at www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/local_rec/index.htm

Separated Material

The original compilations (abstracts) are found at the Library of Virginia's State Records Center.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Southampton County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Christian sects--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Clergy--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Free African Americans--Marriage--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Marriage--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Slaves--Marriage--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Slaves--United States--Virginia--Southampton County.

Geographical Names:

• Southampton County (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Indexes (reference sources)--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Southampton County.
• Marriage registers--Virginia--Southampton County.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Southampton County (Va.) County Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data