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 ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html This list is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).