Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Greensville County (Va.) Marriage Records and Vital Statistics Records, 1781-1874 (bulk 1781-1842). Local government records collection, Greensville County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Greensville County.

Historical Information

Greensville County was named for either Revolutionary War general Nathaniel Greene or for Sir Richard Grenville, leader of the Roanoke Island settlement of 1585. The county was formed from Brunswick County in 1780. Part of Brunswick County was added in 1787 and part of Sussex County was added in 1802.

Scope and Content

Greensville County (Va.) Marriage Records and Vital Statistics Records, 1781-1874 (bulk 1781-1842) contains records marriage bonds 1781-1842; marriage certificates 1854-1859 and consents 1781-1840 circa. Also included are printed Birth Register pages that have the entries for births in the year 1874.

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.

Birth registers contain headings for: date and place of birth; name of child (if named); color (if "colored," whether slave or free); sex; whether born alive or dead; name of father or owner; father's occupation; father's residence (county or locality in the county); mother's name; how many infants at this birth (whether this was a multiple birth); deformities or any circumstances of interest; name of the person giving the information; and the relation of the informant to the person born.

Related Material

Additional Greensville County Court 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:

• Greensville County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Greensville County

Geographical Names:

• Greensville County (Va.)--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Greensville County

Adjunct Descriptive Data