Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Isle of Wight County (Va.) Reel 145.

Preferred Citation

Isle of Wight County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1862. Isle of Wight County (Va.) Reel 145, Local government records collection, Isle of Wight County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Isle of Wight County.

The microfilm copy of this volume, Reel 145, was generated by a field operator, from the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Microfilm Section, while filming in the Isle of Wight County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

Historical Information

Isle of Wight was one of the original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. Parts of Nansemond County were added in 1769 and 1772. The county was definitely named for the Isle of Wight (which means "channel" or island in the channel) and one of the first settlers in that county of Virginia was from the Isle of Wight in England, Sir Richard Worsley, and early patentee there. It was first known as Warrosquyoake for a tribe living in the area whose name means "swamp in a depression of land." The present name was given in 1637.

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. Written consent from a parent or guardian was needed for individuals younger than twenty-one years. The license, issued then by the clerk, was given to the minister who performed the service. Once the service was performed, the minister submitted a return to the county clerk. The county clerk recorded these returns along with other marriage records, such as bonds, certificates and licenses, in a marriage register.

The original marriage licenses and ministers' returns, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County Court.

Scope and Content

Isle of Wight County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1862, is a list of marriages celebrated in the county and recorded by the county clerk. The following information is included: the name of the parties, the date of the marriage license, upon whose consent the license was granted and a notation of the minister's return and the name and denomination of the minister performing the ceremony (this section is only included on leaves 1-63 from 1850-1854.) Marriages between "free persons of color" are noted from 1850-1861 on leaves 2-81. The register also includes an unnumbered, internal index found at the beginning of the volume. This index is organized alphabetically A-W, by the groom's surname, according to the order of the leave numbers in the volume.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Additional Isle of Wight County Marriage Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Isle of Wight County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Christian sects--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Clergy--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Free African Americans--Marriage--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Marriage--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.

Geographical Names:

• Isle of Wight County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.
• Marriage registers--Virginia--Isle of Wight County.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Isle of Wight County (Va.) County Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data

This volume is located at the State Records Center. Contact Archives Research Services for access information, directions and hours.