Laws regarding marriages did not remain static. There were various 
changes involving the degree of relationship (including a man marrying a 
deceased wife's sister) allowed in a lawful marriage, but essentially 
until at least 1853 Virginia law required either banns (until 1848) or a 
license obtained in the jurisdiction (county or city) of the residence 
of the bride and permission for any person (male or female) under 
twenty-one of the parent or guardian. In 1831 (p. 27) a mother's consent 
became acceptable if there was no father or guardian. Beginning in 1811 
(p.34) ministers from other states were authorized to marry in Virginia.

Page numbers reference

/Virginia General Assembly Session Laws, 1808-1853/.The /Session Laws/ 
are available on microfilm in the Library’s West Reading Room.

See also

http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/bibguides.htm


Early Virginia Marriage Records 
<http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/Research_Note_26.pdf> (pdf)


Barbara Vines Little, CG, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS
PO Box 1273
Orange, VA 22960

540-832-3473
[log in to unmask]

CG, Certified Genealogist, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used
under license by board-certified genealogists after periodic evaluation; the board name is
registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

On 8/14/2018 8:37 AM, Keith Kirkland wrote:
> Hello -
>
> I'm having an ongoing discussion with another genealogical forum concerning
> Virginia vs North Carolina marriages. We have a question that I'm hoping
> someone here may be able to answer.
>
> I, like many others in the forum, have noticed that many of my ancestors
> traveled from the Southside area of Virginia across the state line to
> Northern North Carolina counties to get married -  with the majority of
> those marriages occurring in Warren County, North Carolina.
>
> The question I have is: why? Why did so many people from Brunswick,
> Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, and Greensville counties in Virginia choose to
> marry in Warren County, North Carolina?
>
> I was wondering if anyone familiar with 19th century Virginia law could
> explicitly state the requirements necessary for citizens of Virginia to
> marry and do the same for North Carolina?
>
> Thank you


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