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Henrico County (Va.) Register of Licenses for Marriage, 1850-1862. Local government records collection, Henrico County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
This original volume came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Henrico County.
Henrico County was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I.
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.
The original marriage licenses, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County Court.
Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.
Henrico County (Va.) Register of Licenses of Marriage, 1850-1862, records all marriage licenses, A-Z, for the mid-19th century obtained from the county clerk by residents of the county. Along with the date of the license, the names of the intended are also included. There are blank pages between each letter of the alphabet for additional listings. One marriage with the last name Isbell is listed with marriages beginning with the letter J (under the index beginning with the letter I.) Marriages between free persons of color are noted with parentheses from 1850-1862.
The volume is arranged alphabetically by intended groom's surname and also chronologically by month, day and year of marriage license.
Additional Henrico County Marriage Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico 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.