Marriage records for Norfolk have survived for 1866. I'm not sure if they were copied from separate racial registers or individual returns of ministers, but the microfilmed copy includes both black and white marriages. Further distinctions are made between free born and colored brides and grooms. These records though, wouldn't constitute cohabitation records because they don't refer to prior slave marriages. And I've not compared the Norfolk records with other cities. Perhaps local record keeping practices might explain why FB agents didn't prepare or submit the registers to Bureau HQs. I don't have marriage totals for Norfolk, but the Goochland register recorded nearly 1,000 marriages, the one for Nelson County recorded little over 630 and the Louisa Courthouse register recorded more than 1200 marriages. I would estimate the Norfolk numbers to be higher than any of these, but again, I don't have totals. I also recall seeing marriage returns amongst DC FB records for Northern VA couples. However I'm not sure if the records reflect a preference or requirement to record marriages in Washington. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html