thestokesnews.com · Rockingham, NC
Marriage bonds in early Rockingham and Stokes counties were legal pledges signed by a prospective groom and a guarantor to ensure there were no legal obstacles to a marriage. These documents, widely used in North Carolina between 1741 and 1868, acted as a financial promise or a conditional contract. In Rockingham County (established in 1785) and Stokes County (established in 1789), historical records show that the large sums of money listed on these bonds ranging from 50 pounds to 1,000 dollars were only collected as penalties if the marriage was later discovered to be illegalTo understand how marriage worked in early North Carolina history, it helps to step back to a time before modern computer databases, photo identifications, and automated background checks. If a couple wanted to get married in the late 1700s or early 1800s, the community needed a way to verify that the union was legal.The state offered two main paths to marriage. The first was called “banns”.
Up & Coming Weekly · Pembroke, NC
Nearby: Pembroke, NCStudents will explore Lumbee history and culture through music, dance, storytelling, and visual art on Nov. 19, when the Lumbee Tribe Showcase returns this fall semester to Givens Performing Arts Center at 359 Prospect Rd. on the University of North Carolina at Pembroke campus. Organized by the arts center and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the program will offer school performances at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Registration opened Sept. 8, according to event information provided by organizers. The showcase comes less than a year after the tribe received full federal recognition Dec. 18, 2025, becoming the 575th federally recognized tribe in the United States. The milestone followed generations of advocacy and brought renewed attention to the Lumbee people and their place in North Carolina history.
Rochester Beacon · Monroe, NC
Nearby: Monroe, NCThe 2026 midterm election was tremendous for Democrats. On a national level, the party flipped many historically red states and reclaimed both chambers of Congress. In several states, such as North Carolina, the party won back huge legislature majorities. New York, which is already a Democratic party stronghold, appears to be headed toward supermajorities in both state legislative bodies. Gov. Kathy Hochul also won reelection with likely her best showing yet. (The Beacon is providing vote-count updates here as AP reports them.) “Tonight signals a turning point for Rochester—new Democratic leadership in Washington, a stronger Democratic majority in Albany, and Democrats elected across Monroe County,” state Sen. Jeremy Cooney said in a statement following his win. “Working together, we must transition the celebration into a clarion call for bold leadership that delivers on age-old promises.