For some time researchers have relied on Eva Eubank Wilkerson's "Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex County, Virginia, 1655-1900," as the Bible for finding marriage records in that location.  Although Wilkerson's work includes many implied marriages found in alternate public records, users will find upon close examination that marriages of non-white persons are omitted.

The team of Suzanne P. Derieux and Wesley E. Pippenger have gleaned and now present much information from marriage applications, licenses, consents and minister returns, for the period 1850-1872.  Most records provide the date of marriage, name of the bride and groom, age of bride and groom, status of bride and groom (whether single, divorced or widowed), birthplace, residence, names of parents, occupation of groom, and name of the minister officiating the marriage.  The place of marriage or birthplace of either party often provides the name of a specific plantation or property.

Copies will be available soon for purchase at the Essex County Museum and Historical Society, in Tappahannock, or now through the mail from Wesley E. Pippenger, P.O. Box 309, Tappahannock, VA 22560.  Copies are large format, 8-1/2"x11", paper cover, Perfect-bound, 377+xviii pages, with index and illustrations of the typical kinds of source records used.  The price is $40.00, plus $5.00 postage and handling to a U.S. address.  Libraries may send a purchase order or may request to be sent an invoice for orders.
																
Wesley E. Pippenger
Past-President, Virginia Genealogical Society
Secretary, Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, D.C.
							

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html