Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Botetourt County, Reels 35 and 36.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Botetourt County (Va.) Marriage Registers and Index, 1770-1853. Botetourt County Reels 35 and 36, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

The original volumes were compiled by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division from the original court records found in the Botetourt County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The microfilm copy of these volumes was generated by The Genealogical Society of Utah--while filming on-site at the Library of Virginia.

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

Historical Information

Botetourt County was formed in 1769 from Augusta County. Part of Rockbridge County was added in 1785. It was named for Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt, the royal governor who served from 1768 to 1770.

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.

Created by an act of 1769 to take effect on February 13, 1770. Many of the loose records including pre-1830 chancery and pre-1854 judgments suffered tremendous water damage as a result of a courthouse fire on December 15, 1970. Because of the near loss of records, the General Assembly passed the Virginia Public Records Act in 1975 for the purpose of preserving local records. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

Scope and Content

Marriage Register, 1770-1853, is divided into two separate volumes. The first volume covering pages 1-346, 1770-1830, 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. In addition, there are a number of marriages between free persons of color--pages 165, 181, 230, 250 and 302.

The second volume covering pages 347-705, 1831-1853, essentially records the same information found in the first volume but is divided into a number of sections. Of note, there is a marriage between free persons of color on page 354. Pages 503-687 of this volume detail a separate section covering 1782-1853. The following information is included on these pages--the date of the marriage, the names of both parties, the minister's name, the religious denomination of the minister and a remarks section (which lists the authority by which a party was married--by license, by license from another county or by "banns.") Marriage banns, published in the parish church where the couple lived, constituted a legal substitute for a marriage license prior to 1848. Pages 687-689 of this volume, 1834-1852, detail information related to undated marriage licenses. Pages 691-703 of this volume, 1793-1853, record information found in additional county marriage registers and page 705 of this volume records recommendations for minister's licenses from 1781, 1784-1785.

An Index to Marriage Registers, 1770-1853, is a separate volume. It is arranged alphabetically from A-Z according to the last and first names of both parties. Alternate spellings of last names are included with a "see also" reference following the standard spelling. Occasionally, this volume also lists alternate names of individuals (aliases) in parentheses.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

Additional Botetourt County Marriage Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm found on the Library of Virginia web site.

Botetourt County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Botetourt County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia web site

Separated Material

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

Access Terms

• Botetourt County (Va.)--History.
• Botetourt County (Va.). Circuit Court.
• Christian sects--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Clergy--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Free African Americans--Marriage--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Indexes (reference sources)--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Marriage registers-Virginia--Botetourt County.
• Marriage--Virginia--Botetourt County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data