Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm reels, Petersburg (Va.) Reels 107-116.

Preferred Citation

Petersburg (Va.) Marriage Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Ministers' Returns, 1784-1871, Local government records collection, Petersburg Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

Original records transferred to the Library of Virginia from the circuit court of Petersburg under accession number 52919.

Historical Information

Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. A garrison and fur trading post called Fort Henry was established there in 1645 on the site of the Indian town Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd (1674-1744), honors Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added to Petersburg. It was incorporated as a city in 1850.

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.

Scope and Content

Petersburg (Va.) Marriage Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Ministers' Returns, 1784-1871, record the following information: name of minister, name of church the minister served, name of bride and groom, date of marriage, race of bride of groom, and date marriage was submitted to court by minister or license issued by court.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

Additional Petersburg Marriage and Vital Statistics 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.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• African Americans--History.
• Clergy--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Marriage--Virginia--Petersburg.

Geographical Names:

• Petersburg (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Marriage licenses--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Petersburg.

Adjunct Descriptive Data