9,212
edits
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 93: | Line 93: | ||
== Marriage Records == | == Marriage Records == | ||
West Virginia marriages were recorded by the existing counties as early as 1780. For later counties, marriage records began when each county was organized. Marriage records can be obtained by writing to the county clerk of the county where the marriage took place. | West Virginia marriages were recorded by the existing counties as early as 1780. For later counties, marriage records began when each county was organized. Marriage records can be obtained by writing to the county clerk of the county where the marriage took place. | ||
For marriage records from 1853 to 1860 see the ten microfilms described above under birth and death records. | For marriage records from 1853 to 1860 see the ten microfilms described above under birth and death records. | ||
| Line 105: | Line 105: | ||
=== Early Marriage Laws === | === Early Marriage Laws === | ||
For information about marriage laws in Virginia (mother state of West Virginia) see [http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx Virginia Marriage Laws] . Early marriages were in the custody of the Clerk of the County Court. Ministers were required to submit a list of the | For information about marriage laws in Virginia (mother state of West Virginia) see [http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx Virginia Marriage Laws] . Virginia law required the posting of banns or a marriage bond in the county of the bride's residence. Bonds contain the name of the bride, groom and two bondsmen. Often, the groom was one of the bondsmen. Many of these record still exist. Early marriages were in the custody of the Clerk of the County Court. Ministers were required to submit a list of the marriages they performed at least every three months. These lists are called "marriage returns". Occasionally, the minister would turn in the list of marriages to one county when the marriages actually took place in a different county. Be sure to check the records of adjacent counties or even states if a marriage cannot be found where it is expected to be. | ||
Marriage bonds | Marriage bonds | ||