I have received Family Lore Treasure #, well, at least #6:  a book of Mecklenburg County, Virginia Marriages 1765-1853, compiled by John Vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr.  Thank you, cyber-buddy Kevin Lett , for parting with your resources via Ebay!

Within the cover of this data-packed book are names and dates.  Just names and dates. But as I am learning, even little morsels of information can be key ingredients to a family’s story.  I have my Grandmother Strickland’s hand-written genealogy, but resources like Virginia Marriages provide the confirmation and missing data that make the stories handed down authentic.

And so I find the story of James Henry Dodson and Sarah Jane Rowlett, my great-great-grandparents, residents of Mecklenburg County, Virigina.  They were married on 6 December 1844, when James was a 29 year old property owner (1840 Census) and Sarah was a young 19 year old (census derived age).  As was custom a bond of up to $150 was given by William G. Coleman, relationship to Sarah unknown, to the county court clerk to show good faith that there was no lawful cause to prevent the marriage.  The marriage license was then presented to Minister John B. Smith.  In 1844 fifty-five marriages were performed throughout the county, with 14 of them being conducted in the month of December.

New leads: William G. Coleman, John B. Smith

To be explored: Parents of James and Sarah, and the families arrival in Mecklenburg County