VASTAFFO-L Archives

Archiver > VASTAFFO > 2002-03 > 1016057601


From: "Joseph J. Messersmith, Jr." <>
Subject: Re: [VASTAFFO-L] early marriage records
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 17:13:21 -0500
In-Reply-To: <12b.dc979b5.29c12370@aol.com>


Most or all marriage records of Stafford County prior to the Civil War were
destroyed and/or looted by Union troops during the winter of 1862-3.

Starting in 1853, VA required all counties and cities to issue marriage
licenses which was a continuation of the past practice of issuing marriage
bonds. However, starting in 1853, each county and city had to complete a
report on a yearly basis of all marriages and send a copy to the state. The
report was compiled in marriage registers. I suspect that any marriage
records that exist at the courthouse are there because they have obtained a
copy from the Library of VA.

Because of the Yankees, I'll probably never know the maiden name of one of
my ggg grandmothers.

Thanks a lot guys.

Jim Messersmith



At 04:49 PM 3/13/2002 , you wrote:
>At the Stafford county courthouse, they (records) go from 1853 on to 1920. I
>have viewed them personaly. Before 1853 it was not mandated that couples
>register their marriages, etc. Good luck.
>
>
>==== VASTAFFO Mailing List ====
>Visit the Stafford County USGenWeb Home Page.
>http://www.rootsweb.com/~vastaffo
>
>==============================
>To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
>go to:
>http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

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