This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: waroper Surnames: Roper Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1709.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The cited list appears within the book "Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002), at page 175. It is shown to say: "I do certify that the following persons were joined together in Holy Matrimony according to the rites & ceremonies of the Methodist Episcopal Church the day & date as follows: Dick Butler & Mason Booker ... June 2th 1818 Moses Johnson & Dinah Butcher... July 25, 1818 Thomas Tally & Nancy Eanes ... Aug 18, 1818 Chamer Crowder & Sarah Caudle ... Oct 29, 1818 Robert Williams & Mary Caudle ... Nov. 5, 1818 Frederick Thomas & Agnes Valentine ... Nov. 7, 1818 Abraham V. Wells & Salley Williams ... Nov. 14, 1818 William Prosise & Moriah Wells ... Dec 2, 1818 Allin Thweatt & Nancy M. Sutherland .. Dec. 1, 1818 Armistead Wells & Dolly B. Williamson ... Dec. 11, 1818 Isaac Williamson & Catherine Wells ... Dec. 18, 1818 Joel Hitchcock & Mary Nance ... Jan. 13, 1819 Norman Croford & --- Hitchcock ... Jan. 13, 1819 William J. Crowder & Rebecca Roper ... Mar 11, 1819 June 1819 Chas Roper D. M. E. C." * * * I understand this to be a list given by Deacon Charles ROPER of the Methodist Episcopal Church to be recorded by the Clerk in the public records for Dinwiddie County, Virginia. It bears mention that when a person wanted to marry, they needed to obtain a license, for which a marriage bond was also required. The bond was made out in favor of the identified official and presented to the County Clerk who would issue the license. The license, in turn, authorized the solemnization of the marriage by a minister or justice of the peace. The marriage returns would then be made by the official solemnizing the marriage. It is unclear whether Charles ROPER had neglected to previously make a return contemporaneous with each marriage or whether the marriage returns had been lost. But it appears that Charles Roper prepared a certification showing the list of persons he had married during some interval and presented it for recording. It is UNCLEAR to me the extent to which recording of lists of solemnized marriages was then common either in Dinwiddie County or elsewhere. The appearance of these lists is yet another reason WHY it is very important to get a look at the original records in the places where your ancestors lived. Abstracts of records rarely give the details necessary to prepared rigorous and honest family history! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>