Cohabitation Records
Cohabitation Bonds were filed with the register of deeds of each county and legitimized the marriages of former enslaved peoples after an act established in 1866. These materials are part of the collections of the State Archives of North Carolina and digitization of them is ongoing.
In March 1866, the General Assembly passed “An Act Concerning Negroes and Persons of Color or of Mixed Blood,” which included a statute that enslaved people who had been living together as man and wife during slavery were now considered to be legally married. Called cohabitation bonds, these were filed with the register of deeds and were retroactive, legitimizing the marriages of former enslaved peoples. Typically included was the name and age of the bride and groom and length of time they had been married. Some counties include the name of the enslaver and/or the number of children the couple may have had. While in the original records cohabitation bonds are sometimes named as such, for many marriage records we cannot determine the race of the couple. In some instances, other marriage records from 1866 may be included in the collection that do not specifically include the term “cohabitation.”
This site is currently under development. We will be reviewing and making corrections and updates on an ongoing basis. If you find any errors, please send them to archives@dncr.nc.gov or digital.info@dncr.nc.gov
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