Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Cumberland County (Va.) Reel 89.

Preferred Citation

Cumberland County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1861. Cumberland County (Va.) Reel 89, Local government records collection, Cumberland 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 Cumberland County.

Microfilm Reel 89 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Historical Information

Cumberland County formed from Goochland County in 1749. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, third son of King George II.

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, then issued 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 records, from which this volume was compiled, were created by the County Court.

Scope and Content

Cumberland County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1850-1861, is a list of marriages celebrated in the county and recorded by the county clerk. The register is very basic and includes only the date of the license and the names of the persons for whom the marriage license was issued. The volume contains only eight numbered pages. Marriages between free negroes or free persons of color are noted in parentheses between 1850 and 1859.

Related Material

Additional Cumberland 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:

• Cumberland County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Free African Americans--Marriage--Virginia--Cumberland County.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Cumberland County.
• Marriage--Virginia--Cumberland County.

Geographical Names:

• Cumberland County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Cumberland County.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Cumberland County.
• Marriage registers--Virginia--Cumberland County.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Cumberland County (Va.) County Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data