Marriage bonds and licenses, 1786-1902

Notes

A bond is a legal document wherein a person commits himself, his heir, executors and administrators to pay a required amount of money to another if certain duties are not performed. These were paid by people to ensure a marriage took place and perhaps recorded with the clerk of the court or county clerk.

The licenses were issued by the clerk of the County Court to allow the marriage by an authorized minister and were returned to the clerk after the marriage.

Loose bonds are arranged chronologically by year and give names of parties, amount and date of the bond, names of sureties, etc.

Loose licenses are also arranged chronologically by year. Information varies but usually gives names of bride and groom, ages, marital status, birthplaces, parents' names, husband's occupation, residences, date and place of marriage, date of license, and who performed the marriage.

Includes parental consents for some bonds and licenses.

Microfilm of original records at the Rockbridge County Courthouse in Lexington, Virginia.

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