Cohabitation Lists of Former Slaves in Goochland, Hanover, and Louisa Counties, Virginia, as Recorded by the Freedmen's Bureau

Transcribed by Janice Abercrombie. Index.

In February, 1866 the General Assembly passed an act that called for the registration of marriages of former slaves who wished to have their unions recorded. This fell under the jurisdiction of the Freedmen's Bureau. These lists provide an unparalleled window into the patterns of slave marriages. For example, in the Hanover list, in addition to the ages and full names of husband and wife, it records the date and place of marriage, the couple's places of birth and residence, marital status (single or widowed), and husband's occupation. The Goochland and Louisa lists record similar date in most cases.