Forwarded by Flo. (I don't remember seeing this posted previously.) ============================================================ - Free Access to the Virginia Marriage Index, 1740-1850 Database Ancestry.com has hundreds of great genealogy databases on their Web site. Most of them are available only to subscribers who pay the "huge" sum of $5.00 a month for access. Actually, it is $60.00 a year, but it sounds better when you say $5.00 a month. Heck, I spend more than that for candy bars each month (I really need to stop doing that). Anyway, Ancestry.com occasionally places one of their databases on the "free side" of the Web site so that potential subscribers can try them out for a bit. That obviously encourages people to sign up for the full package. I was a bit surprised this week to see Ancestry.com place one of their most popular databases on the "free side." Millions of Americans have Virginia ancestry, so this particular database will appeal to many. Here is Ancestry's announcement: Virginia Marriage Index, 1740-1850 Throughout the 18th and well into the 19th Century, Virginia was one of the most populous states in the Union, being home to as many as 1.2 million persons at any one time. This collection of marriage records includes the names of over 300,000 men and women married in the state between 1740 and 1850. In addition to providing the names of bride and groom, researchers will find the date of marriage and county in which the ceremony was performed. For those seeking married ancestors from Virginia, this database can be a valuable source of information. Bibliography: Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. "Early American Marriages: Virginia." Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing Publishers, 19xx. To search this database, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3723.htm Remember that the free access is going to be available only for a few more days. You also might want to check out Ancestry.com's other Virginia resources in their Online Store at: http://shop.ancestry.com/ancestry/bvirginiab.html Flo. Day -- <[email protected]>