A Guide to the Montgomery County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1861
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Collection numbers: Montgomery
County
(Va.) Reel 52
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Processed by: Library of Virginia staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
The original volume was returned to Montgomery County
(Va.) Circuit Court at the request of the clerk's office on 31 July 2015.
Use Restrictions
Use microfilm copy, Montgomery County
(Va.) Reel 52.
Preferred Citation
Montgomery County
(Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1861. Montgomery
County
(Va.) Reel 52, Local government records collection, Montgomery
County
Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
Acquisition Information
Microfilm Reel 52 was generated in-house by the staff of the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Microfilm Section.
Historical Information
Montgomery County
was formed from Fincastle
County
in 1776, and the
county
court first met on 7 January 1777. Part of Botetourt
County
was added in 1790. Part of
Pulaski
County
was added in 1842. The
county
was named for Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the American assault on Quebec late in 1775.
Fincastle County
was created from Botetourt
County
in 1772, and the
county
court first met on 5 January 1773. Fincastle
County
became extinct on 31 December 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky
Counties
. The
county
was named probably for George, Viscount Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, Viscount
Fincastle; or for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was established in 1772 and named for George, Viscount Fincastle.
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. Once the marriage service was performed, the minister submitted
a return to the
county
clerk. Written consent from a parent or guardian was needed for individuals younger than twenty-one years.
The original marriage licenses and business records, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County
Court.
Scope and Content
Montgomery County
(Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1861, is one part of a compilation volume containing two different record types. The other
portion of the original volume containing business records was not microfilmed. The marriage register lists marriage licenses
issued by the
county
court clerk. For the most part, this section follows a chronological arrangement. The listings indicate the day, month and
year when the license was issued as well as the full names of both parties.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Related Material
Additional Montgomery County
Marriage and Business Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia
County and City Records on Microfilm."