Digitized and indexed marriage records from the Virginia Field Office of the Freedmen’s Bureau are available online via FamilySearch. FamilySearch digitized the microfilm and, in collaboration with the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, coordinated volunteers who indexed the materials. The Virginia records are part of the pilot phase of the project to digitize all of NARA’s Freedmen’s Bureau papers that have been microfilmed. The next phase of the project will focus on other states’ Freedmen’s Bureau records. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture may ultimately host the digitized records online.
Search the Viriginia Freedmen’s Bureau Marriage records online. The FamilySearch site is free. The pilot records search requires Adobe Flash Player 10 and may take a while to load on some computers.
This is a fantastic research tool and one that I would like to see implemented in other states. I found that loading times could be a little slow but the technology behind this program is quite impressive.
I am searching for records for my great aunt Ellen (Ellie or Nellie) Crotty who emigrated on 23rd March 1901. We have two conflicting addresses: (1) to C.F. Hodges, Dufferin Ave., Brantford, Ontario for which I have gone through the entire 1911 census without success and (2) to her uncle Thomas (Tom) Coughlan in Pennsylvania. I am having difficulty with accessing the records for Pennsylvania. Can you help?
Great post, I know somebody working on mariage records and will pass on the info. Thanks!
I am looking for the father and siblings of William Hiram Akins (W. H. Akens). William Hiram was born in Georgia about 1829 and died in Mississippi in 1903. His wife was Levinia Vinson Laney. Their firat son was Benjamin Phillip. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Hello,
If you know approximately where William Akins was born in Georgia (at least the county), I would suggest looking at the 1850 census as a starting place to locate his family. If he was still living with his parents at that time, the census will list the father, mother, and all siblings residing in the household. From there, you will probably need to identify more local records, such as church baptisms (if you know their denomination), to help flesh out and confirm the identities of all family members.
– John
i am looking for marriage and or divorce records on Charles Magnus Anyomi or Chuck Magnus Anyomi. please help
Hi Evelyn,
Since vital records such as marriage and divorce records are created by local authorities, they are not considered Federal records; therefore they are not typically held by the National Archives (with some exceptions for military events, or events overseas). The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics website tells how to obtain birth, death, marriage, and divorce records from state and territorial agencies. More information about vital records is available on our website: http://www.archives.gov/research/vital-records/
Best of luck with your research,
Meredith