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The Virginia Genealogist, April-June 1983

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Preface for Book 10

Marriages Shenandoah County, Virginia

This compilation of Shenandoah County, Virginia, marriages, in theory, will bring the marriage register 'into the home'. One major drawback, however, is the fact that on 23 March 1984, Lisa Shenk of the archives division, Virginia State Library, 12th and Broad Streets, Richmond, Virginia, 23219, microfilmed marriage registers for 1781-1850; 1850-1856; 1854-1882; and 1882-1915; and marriage bonds for 1772-1853. At the same time Shenk accessioned original marriage bonds 1772-1860, original marriage licenses 1860-1912, and original Ministers returns for 1772-1877. In lay language this means that all original marriage source documents, e.g., bonds, licenses, and marriage returns are now in the holdings of the Virginia State Library. It would be wise for researchers, family historians, and others, not to draw a conclusion that the data which appears in the marriage registers above is 'absolutely correct', and the only option remaining is to examine the original marriage source document at the Virginia State Library. However, one may write to the library and tell them what document that you are interested in. They restrict orders to two items only. Do not send money with your request, as they will determine if they have the document, and then advise the cost. The various marriage registers mentioned above were erected by Shenandoah County, Virginia courthouse clerks who entered data into the registers which they transcribed from original bonds, licenses, ministers marriage returns, and from other collateral original documents, such as consent documents, affidavit and oath documents, etc. The above mentioned Shenandoah County, Virginia marriage registers were very difficult to read, as the writing, spelling, and penmanship represent many different courthouse clerks and scribes. Certain letters were impossible to distinguish, and it would appear that the clerks/scribes spelled a great number of surnames phonetically, which resulted in the corruption of many Germanic surnames. Also it was discovered that the clerks/scribes failed to record seventy (70) marriages in the index for marriages, recorded on page 51 and 52 of the marriage register for 1854-1882. It probably would be interesting to speculate on how many people searched through this marriage register index in the past 132 years, looking for, without finding, the names of brides and grooms that they were interested in. It is postulated that this marriage compilation reaches into approximately 85% of the families residing in Shenandoah County, Virginia, during the time frame of 9 July 1850 through 25 December 1881. It is very doubtful that this compilation will be published without the usual unintentional errors of transcription, transposition, typing, etc. It is the hope of these compilers that a more patient person will journey to Richmond, Virginia, and compile this same material by using the 'original source documents', e. g. bonds, licenses, ministers returns, and collateral documents such as consents, oaths, affidavits, etc. Since this compilation pertains to Shenandoah County, Virginia marriages from 1850 forward, it is therefore proper to state that the marriage bonds from 1772-1850 were published in 1967 by Bernice Ashby, and printed by the Virginia Book Company, Berryville, Virginia. On pages 1 through 28 of this compilation are the marriages contained in the Shenandoah County Virginia marriage register for 1850-1856, and recorded data includes the names of the Bride and Groom, date of marriage, date the marriage license or bond was issued, and the name of the marriage official. Also included may be consents, oaths, affidavits, names of the parents, names of the guardians, and the names of any witnessess. Marriages in this register date from 9 July through 26 December 1853. Pages 28 through 433 of this compilation pertain to marriages recorded in Shenandoah County, Virginia marriage register for 1854 - 1882, and were solemnized from 5 January 1854 through 25 December 1881. This register contains a great deal more data than the former register, and includes the name of the groom, date of marriage, name of the marriage official, where the marriage was solemnized, age of the groom, occupation of the groom, residence of the groom, groom's parent's names, where the groom was born, and whether he was single-widowed-divorced. Also, it contains the age and name of the bride, residence of the bride, where the bride was born, her parents names, and whether the bride was single-widowed-divorced. Also included may be consents, oaths, affidavits, names of guardians and witnesses, and other miscellaneous remarks and data. Some genealogy has been added to this compilation by the compilers, and usually is added in parenthesis below the marriage item. The state library at Richmond, Virginia, has extant films of the marriages of Shenandoah County, Virginia, as follows: Film reel No. 64 - Marriage bonds 1772-1853 Film reel No. 65 - Marriage register No. 1 1781 - 1850 Marriage register 1850 - 1856 Marriage register 1854 - 1882 Marriage register and index for 1882 - 1915 Film reel No. 68-84 Marriage bonds 1772 - 1860 Film reels No. 85-105 Marriage licenses 1860 - 1912 Film reels No. 106-108 Ministers marriage returns 1772 - 1877 The Virginia State Library furnished copies of the above reels of microfilm to the Circuit Cotrt record room, at the courthouse at Woodstock, Virginia, 22664, however, the Circuit court record room never did obtain a film reader', and the films were useless without one. More recently, a Shenandoah County Library was established at Edlnburg, Virginia, and the Circuit Court record room relinquished their microfilms to this newly established county wide library. As of September 1986 this newly established library had not acquired a 'microfilm reader1, but they do plan on obtaining one so that genealogists, researchers, and others, vrill be able to view the films, above. This compilation pertains to some 4,000 marriages, more or less. The maiden names of the brides, as well as their new married surname are both indexed. Any one particular name may appear more than once on the same page of this work. If there is any doubt concerning any particular marriage recorded on pages 1 through 433, the original source document should be verified at the Virginia State Library, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Refer to paragraph 1 of this foreword for library ordering procedures. it was discovered that the clerks/scribes failed to record seventy (70) marriages in the index.

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