Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900

In 1584, Queen Elizabeth I of England gave Sir Walter Raleigh permission to establish colonies in the new world. The area he settled was named Virginia in honor of the queen. This database consists of marriage records from many Virginia counties; this update to the database adds records from Greene, Patrick, and Rockbridge counties to those of Albemarle, Charlottesville, Essex (including Old Rappahannock), Lee, Loudoun, Marion, Marshall, Page, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Raleigh, Richmond, Shenandoah, Stafford Taylor, Wayne, Wetzel, and Wirt counties. Most of these records are quite complete because a state law passed in 1853 required that county and independent city clerks issue marriage licenses and keep marriage registers. Before a license was issued, the parties to be married had to offer the following information: full names, ages, places of birth and residence, proposed marriage date and place, marital status (widowed or single), parents' names, groom's occupation, and minister's name. After the marriage ceremony, the minister returned the information to the clerk, who recorded it in a marriage register.

Albemarle County:

Albemarle County records span from 1851 to 1929. It was formed in 1744 from Goochland County. Charlottesville is the county seat.

Original data: Albemarle County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1929. County court records housed in Charlottesville, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #1889169-1889179.

Charlottesville City:

Charlottesville City records span from 1888 to 1929. The city was established in 1762 in Albemarle County.

Original data: Charlottesville City, Virginia Marriages, 1888-1929. City records available at the city offices, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

Essex County:

Essex County records span from 1851 to 1900. The county was formed in 1692 from Old Rappahannock County. The county seat is Tappahannock. The Old Rappahannock County records are also housed in Essex County.

Original data: Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records housed at Tappahannock, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #1929920.

Greene County:

Green County was created in 1838 from Orange County. The records in this database cover the years 1851 through 1900.

Original data: Greene County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records located in Stanardsville, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0031722.

Lee County:

Lee County records span from 1851 to 1900. The county was formed in 1793 from nearby Russell County and is the western-most county in the state.

Original data: Lee County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records located at Jonesville, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm # 0032441.

Loudoun County:

Loudoun County records span from 1851 to 1880. The county was formed in 1757 from Fairfax County. Leesburg is the county seat.

Original data: Loudoun County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-80. County court records located in Leesburg, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #32374.

Marion County:

Marion County records span from 1851 to 1863. The county is now located in West Virginia near the Pennsylvania border. Fairmont is the county seat.

Original data: Marion County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1863. County court records located at Fairmont, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0835626-0835628.

Marshall County:

Marshall County records span from 1851 to 1863. The county was formed in 1835 from nearby Ohio County in Virginia and in 1863 became part of the state of West Virginia.

Original data: Marshall County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-63. County court records located at Moundsville, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm # 0853805.

Page County:

Page County records span from 1851 to 1900. The county was formed in 1831 from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties. Luray is the county seat.

Original data: Page County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records located at Luray, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0033392.

Patrick County:

Patrick County records span from 1876 to 1899. The county was formed in 1791 from Henry County. Stuart is the county seat.

Original data: Patrick County, Virginia Marriages, 1876-99. County court records located at Stuart, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0033351.

Pittsylvania County:

Pittsylvania County records span from 1862 to 1875. The county was formed in 1767 from Halifax County. Chatham is the county seat.

Original data: Pittsylvania County, Virginia Marriages, 1862-75. County court records located at Chatham, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0003326.

Pulaski County:

Pulaski County records span from 1851 to 1900. The county was formed in 1839 from Montgomery and Wythe counties. The county seat is also called Pulaski.

Original data: Pulaski County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records located in Pulaski, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #33401.

Raleigh County:

Raleigh County records span from 1851 to 1861. The county was formed in 1850 from Fayette County and became part of West Virginia in 1863. The couny seat is Beckley.

Original data: Raleigh County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-61. County court records located at Beckley, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0598403.

Richmond City:

Richmond City records span from 1851 to 1853. The city was established in 1742 in Henrico County.

Original data: Richmond City, Virginia Marriages, 1851-53. City records located in Richmond City, Virginia.

Rockbridge County:

Rockbridge County was created in 1778 from Augusta and Botetourt counties. The records from the county in this database cover the years 1851 through 1885.

Original data: Rockbridge County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-85. County court records located in Lexington, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0033797 and 0033799.

Shenandoah County:

Shenandoah County records span from 1851 to 1880. The county was formed in 1772 as Dunmore County, but it was renamed in 1778. The county seat is Woodstock.

Original data: Shenandoah County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-80. County court records located at Woodstock, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0033929.

Stafford County:

Stafford County records span 1851 to 1900. This county is located in northeastern Virginia, bordering Maryland. Stafford County was formed in 1664 from Westmoreland County.

Original data: Stafford County, Virginia Marriages, 1851-1900. County court records located in Stafford, Virginia or Family History Library microfilm # 033955. The years 1851-1853 were extracted at the Virginia State Library in Richmond, Virginia.

Taylor County:

Taylor County records span from 1853 to 1863. The county was formed in 1844 from parts of Harrison, Barbour, and Marion counties. It became part of West Virginia in 1863. The county seat is Grafton.

Original data: Taylor County, Virginia Marriages, 1853-63. County court records located in Grafton, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0818669.

Wayne County:

Wayne County records span from 1853 to 1863. The county was formed in 1842 from Cabell County. It became part of West Virginia in 1863. The county seat is Wayne.

Original data: Wayne County, Virginia Marriages, 1853-63. County court records located in Wayne, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0583490-0583493.

Wetzel County:

Wetzel County records span from 1854 to 1863. The county was formed in 1846 from Tyler County. It became part of West Virginia in 1863. The county seat is New Martinsville.

Original data: Wetzel County, Virginia Marriages, 1854-63. County court records located in New Martinsville, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #1862956, 1863213-1863216, and 1863310.

Wirt County:

Wirt County records span from 1854 through 1863. The county was formed in 1848 from Jackson and Wood counties. It became part of West Virginia in 1863. The county seat is Elizabeth.

Original data: Wirt County, Virginia Marriages, 1854-63. County court records located in Elizabeth, West Virginia or Family History Library microfilm #0849408.