R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Virginia
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Law And Legislation
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

VITAL RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.


Records of BirthsLook this term up in the glossary. and DeathsLook this term up in the glossary.

Few births were recorded by civil authorities before 1853. You may find some information on pre-1853 births and deaths in genealogies, histories, church and Bible records, and collections of personal papers.

From 1853 to 1896, the state required the counties to record births and deaths. Microfilm copies of these are at the Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia has indexes of the birth records to 1896 but does not have indexes of death records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many of the county birth and death records at the Library of Virginia. The statewide birth record index from 1853 to 1896 is available on FHL films 2026327-52, with birth records from 1853 to 1896 (on films beginning with 2046907; computer number 788169).

Registration of births and deaths was not required between 1896 and 14 June 1912, but the health departments of some cities kept birth and death records during that period. Delayed birth registrations for the years 1896-1912 are available at the Division of Vital Records (see address below), and an index is on FHL films 2026352-3; computer number 788169.

Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1912. The Division of Vital Records has the records from 14 June 1912 to the present. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records. You can obtain copies by writing to:

Division of Vital Records
State Health Department
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23208-1000
Telephone: 804-225-5000
The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in:

Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces. Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993 (FHL book 973 V24wv; computer number 185507). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Centers. You can also write to the Division of Vital Records for current information.


Marriage RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

Few marriage records prior to 1730 have survived. Those that exist may be found in various places.

Records before 1853Look this term up in the glossary.. Beginning in 1660, a couple could receive approval to marry by posting a bond with a civil authority or by announcing banns in church.

  • A bondLook this term up in the glossary. was usually posted by a relative of the couple. This individual went to a county court clerk and made a written agreement to forfeit a sum of money (about $150 in the 1800s) as a guarantee that there was no reason to prevent the marriage. Records of marriage bonds sometimes include the parents' consent to the marriage if the bride or groom was a minor. The county clerk then gave the couple a license to be given to the minister who would perform the ceremony.
  • Marriage bannsLook this term up in the glossary. were announcements or publications of the intended marriage presented at three church meetings. This avoided the need to post a bond or obtain a license. The banns were recorded in the church records and the minister then performed the ceremony.

Beginning in 1660 the colonial government required church officials to record all marriages in church registers. Before 1780 these marriages were seldom reported to the county clerk, but in some cases they are recorded in county court order books. A law passed in 1780 required ministers to report all marriages to the county clerk.

Records since 1853Look this term up in the glossary.. An 1853 state law required the clerk of the court in the county or independent city to issue marriage licensesLook this term up in the glossary. and keep marriage records. Couples applying for a license provided the following information for the bride and groom. (Beginning in 1858, a standard form was used.)

  • Full names
  • Ages
  • Places of birth and residence
  • Proposed marriage date and place
  • Whether single or widowed
  • Parents' names
  • Groom's occupation
  • Minister's name

After the certificate was completed, the clerk issued a licenseLook this term up in the glossary.. When the marriage was performed, the minister returned the information to the clerk, who recorded it in the county or city marriage records or registers. For many counties the certificates no longer exist, but the county marriage record books generally provide the marriage information and the parents' names.

Copies of Marriage Records. Copies of Virginia marriage records are available at several places. You can contact:

  • The Division of Vital Records (see address above) for copies of marriage information reported by the counties since January 1853.
  • The clerk of the court of the county or independent city for copies of the certificates, licenses, and registers kept by the county.
  • The Library of Virginia for copies of extant county marriage records and indexes from 1853 to 1935, microfilmed marriage bonds, and published marriage records for many counties. Vogt's book (see below) describes the holdings of the Library of Virginia.
  • The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage bonds and marriage registers for most counties to about 1935 (and some to the 1960s). They can be found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under VIRGINIA - VITAL RECORDS, or VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS. The Family History Library does not have copies of the marriage indexes at the Library of Virginia but has the Marriage Registers, 1853-1935, on 53 FHL films beginning with 2056971 item 4; computer number 785745.

The many published marriage records that are available include:

Marriage Records: Early to 1850, Southern States. [Novato, Calif.]: Brøderbund Software, 1995. (FHL compact disc #9 part 229 [does not circulate to Family History Centers] computer number 683380) Indexes tens of thousands of Virginia county marriage records from 1735 to 1850 on microfilms at the Family History Library Also indexed in FamilyFinder Index and Viewer (see the “Census” section of this outline).

Marriage Records [Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina]. [Novato, Calif.]: Brøderbund Software, 1994. (FHL compact disc #9 part 4 computer number 683379 [does not circulate to Family History Centers]) Also called “Hunting for Bears” collection Indexes tens of thousands of original county marriage records from the late 1700s to 1880 Also indexed in FamilyFinder Index and Viewer (see the “Census” section of this outline).

Virginia Marriage Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1982. (FHL book 975.5 V2v; computer number 140486.) This is especially useful for finding marriage information from the 1700s. It is based on various sources for 41 counties.

A guide to Virginia marriage records is:

Vogt, John, and T., William Kethley. Marriage Records in the Virginia State Library: A Researcher's Guide. Athens, Ga: Iberian Pub. Co. 1988. (FHL book 975.5 V23v 1988; computer number 688891.) Describes the available microfilmed and published records and has helpful background information.

More published marriage records can be found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under VIRGINIA - VITAL RECORDS and VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - VITAL RECORDS.


Divorce RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

Divorce records are usually kept by the county court. The records for 1853 to the present can be obtained from the Division of Vital Records (see address above). The library has not obtained copies of divorce records.


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FOR FURTHER READING

For more information about research and records in Virginia, see:

Clay, Robert Young. Virginia Genealogical Resources. Detroit: Detroit Society of Genealogical Research, 1980. (FHL book 975.5 D27c; computer number 87899.) Explains Virginia geography and the usefulness and availability of civil, church, and personal record types in Virginia, especially at the Library of Virginia.

Eichholtz, Alice, ed. Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources. Rev. ed. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1992. (FHL book 973 D27rb 1992; computer number 594021.) Contains bibliographies and background information on history and ethnic groups. Also contains maps and tables showing when each county was created.

McGinnis, Carol. Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1993. (FHL book 975.5 A3m; computer number 694776.)

Schweitzer, George K. Virginia Genealogical Research. Knoxville, Tenn.: G. Schweitzer, 1984. (FHL book 975.5 D27s; computer number 419322.) Includes geography, bibliographies, repositories, and county-by-county inventories.


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COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve future editions of this outline. Please send your suggestions to:

Publications Coordination
Family History Library
35 N. West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3400
USA
Fax: 801-240-2597
We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this outline and shared helpful information.

Paper publication: Second edition May 1997. English approval: 5/97.

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