Welcome to the VaGenWeb Pittsylvania County, Virginia Genealogy Project
Thanks for coming by for a visit. This pageischanging constantly and I invite you to submit your Bible Records, Deeds,Wills,Marriages, etc to me for other genealogists to share. My name is Gayle Beverley Austin and I was born and raised in Pittsylvania County, but live in Orlando, Florida now.
Search the Pittsylvania County Home Page and Sub Pages
Research Transcripts of some Pittsylvania County Genealogists
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Other Genealogical Sources on the Internet
Pittsylvania County Mailing List Click and type only SUBSCRIBE in the message area, leaving the subject line blank.
Pittsylvania County History
Time Line of Pittsylvania County –Check here for your ancestors, Infomation added Often!
DEATH RECORDS OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY. These are a great resource in your research. I personally have transcribed these records and they cannot be copied for profit.
Definitions of Diseases Used in the Death Records
History of Pittsylvania County -Check here for your ancestors. Information added Often
Importations and Naturalizations From Order Books of Brunswick and Lunenburg Counties. (Pittsylvania County was part of Brunswick and Lunenburg.)
RevolutionaryWar Soldiers and Patriots Add information on your Ancestor
Civil War in Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County Primary Records
Early Virginia Religious Petitions-Pittsylvania
Copies of Original Marriage Bonds of Pittsylvania County
Oaths of Allegiance-1777 Pittsylvania County, VA
Pittsylvania County Marriages 1700-1799
First List of Tithables of Pittsylvania County, Year 1767
Heads of Household of Pittsylvania County, Year 1782
Pittsylvania County Mixed Probate Names
Customer's at Hugh Weir's Store-1835
Pittsylvania County 1850 Census
Pension Applicants - Act of 1888, 1900, and 1902
Pittsylvania County Muster Rolls 1861
Exerts from Minutes of Broad Run Baptist Church-Many members moved to the Halifax-Pittsylvania area.
Pittsylvania County Querries and Surnames
Pittsylvania County Clerk of the Court- Includes information on what documents are available at the Clerk's Office and how to obtain them.
Pittsylvania County Historical Society
Pittsylvania County Public Library- Includes what is available including family histories
VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Sociey-
Pittsylvania County Books Listed For Sale By Vendors
Maps of Pittsylvania County and MAPS TO ORDER (INEXPENSIVE)
Family Newsletters with Pittsylvania County Surnames Are there others?
Pittsylvania County Special Records- Not complete, waiting for your contributions! Please send your contributions to me! They can help other people!!
Other Genealogical Sources on the Internet
UpcomingFamily Reunions in Virginia
VirginiaResources on Internet from Roots Database and Files
The VirginiaNewspaper Project
CollegeLibraries with Manuscripts & Primary Sources
Jamestown RediscoverySite
Virginia VitalRecords Information
VirginiaCities, Counties and Towns
VirginiaCounty Map
Virginia Parishes 1607-1785
VirginiaGenealogical Society Projects
Directory for VAGen Web
EarlyVirginia Religious Petitions
Collection of S Bassett French Biographical Sketches
Library of Virginia Revolutionary War Pensions
Library of Virginia Revolutionary War Bounty Warrents
Library of Virginia Revolutionary War Rejected Claims Collection
VirginiaShips and Passengers
WPA Life Histories
Virginia Historical Society
Informationon Naming Patterns
Some Virginia Bed and Breakfasts
MilitaryHistory at the Library of Virginia
Whereto order Vital Records for Virginia
1790/1800Virginia County Tax Lists
TheValley of the Shadow
Military Research
TheFrench and Indian War Homepage
VirginiaRegiments in the Revolutionary War
RevolutionaryWar Pension Project for Virginia
Governor'sPapers Received During the Revolutionary War
The Continental Army
Daughters of the American Revolution
HistoricValley Forge
Valley Forge Legacy
TheAmerican Revolution
1835Federal Pension List for Virginia
US POW/MIA Records
British Genealoghy Resources
Coatsof Arms from Ireland and Around the World
Society of Genealogists-British Isles
UK & IrelandGenealogical Information Service-GENUKI
TheCollege of Arms-British Isles
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
NamingPatterns-18th and 19th Century Britain
British Isles Genealogical Register:2000
Public Record Office-United Kingdom
Regulationof Heraldry in England
S &NGenealogy Supplies
GetAMap Free
BorthwickInstitute of History-University of York
TheDevon 1891 Census Transcription Project
The BaronagePress
The Institute ofHeraldic & Genealogical Studies
Search ScottishDatabase
GenealogaicalIndex to "Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow-Vol I 1573-1641
FindYour Clan and Tartan
Big Family-Uk/Ireland Family History Research Centre
Local Ireland Genealogy
TheHistory of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Villages
Genealogical Society of Ireland
GendocsGenealogical Research in England & Wales
CoalMining History Resource Centre
UK Genealogy-Monthly Newsletter for UK Genealogy
Scotland,Scotland Clans, Genealogy and History
Searchable Information
SearchEngine for USGenWeb Archives
GenForum SurnameSearch
Genealogy.com
TigerMapping Service
MyFamily.com
Virginia"UnknownCounty" Query Page
InteractiveSearch of RootsWeb Mailing Lists
GenSeeker
SearchShips Lists
FamilytreeMaker Surname Search
RootswebMailing List-Interactive Search
Kindred Connection
Search Genealogy Sites on the Web
Rootsweb Threaded Mailing List Archives
RootswebWorldConnect Project
SocialSecurity Death Index Interactive Search
RootswebWorldConnect Project-Search of Gedcoms
RootswebObituary Daily Times-GEN-ORBIT
Roots Forum.Com-CompuServe Genealogy Forums on the Web
Rootsweb Land Records Data Base
Newsletters of Pittsylvania County Surnames
VIRGINIA MAP ORDER-Prepayment Required Remittance payable to:Treasurer of Viginia
Mail to Virginia Department ofTransportation
Administrative Services-Information Desk-Old Building
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone (804) 786-2838 or (804) 786-2801
Add 4.5% State Sales Tax to Purchase Total
General Highway Maps -FoldedB/W $00.50 each 19" x 28" 1"=2 miles
(Available for each County)
Official State Transportation Map-Folded FREE 39 1/2" x 26 3/4" Full Color
Virginia Scenic Roads Map -Folded FREE 18" x 36" Full Color
Genealogical Treasuresat the Clerk's Office by Herman Melton and Henry Mitchell
This article enumerates some of the most important records found at the Clerk's Office, and was compiled with the asssistance of Clerk's Office staff member Ann Roach This list includes materials most used bygenealogical researchers, but is by no means a complete inventory of theClerk's Office contents. These valuable documents and services are availableto genealogical researchers in the office of Pittsylvania County Clerkof Court, locatedon the first floor of the courthouse in Chatham.
Marriage Register (an index to marriage licenses and ministers' returns) 1767 to present, indexed by males and females,byfirst letter of last name and by date. For entries prior to 1913, licensesor ministers' returns must be copied by the staff of the clerk's office(theoriginals are not available to the public)
General Index to Wills, 1767 to present, indexed by last name of the deceased.
Will Books, 1767 to present.
General Index to Accounts, Current Inventories, Etc. (accountsofestate executors), 1767 to present, indexed by last name of the deceased.
Accounts,
Inventories, Etc, 1767 to present.
Grantor and Grantee Indexes to Deeds, Trust Deeds, Liens, 1767-1889 (andtopresent in a different area of the Clerk's Office). indexed by grantororgrantee's name.
Deed Books, 1767-1889 (and to present in a different area of the Clerk's Office).
Pittsylvania County Land Books (tax records), 1793 to present, more than 200 volumes.
Claims for Supplies, Revolutionary War Soldiers, Pittsylvania County, 1782.
(Partial) Muster Roll, 1861-1865, Pittsylvania County.
Book of Estrays, 1773-1782.
Old Surveys, Books 1 and 2, 1746-1796.
Entry Record Book 1737-1770 (one volume).
Causes, Issues and Proceedings 1774-1805 (one volume).
Register of Free Negroes, 1807-1865.
Militia Bonds 1860-1861, Pittsylvania County.
Vestry Book, Camden Parish, 1787-1852.
Tithables, 1767-1785, and Miscellaneous Lists 1782-1784-1785.
Veterans Records, Revolutionary War
Plaintiffs and Defendants Index to Court Orders, 1767-1904 (andtopresent in a a different area of the Clerk's Office), indexed by first letter of plaintiffs' and defendants' last names.
Plaintiffs and Defendants Index to Common Law Orders, 1831-1936.
Register of Deaths, 1853-1896, 3 vols., compiled by Mrs. Lonnie Crosby: (1)Whites; (2) Slaves; (3) Emancipated blacks.
(Partial) Register of Births, 1853-1896.
Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Births 1853-1896, partialregistercompiled and alphabetized by Mike K. Williams and Mary L. Boisseau.
1880 Census Index of Pittsylvania County and Danville, compiled by the Virginia-North Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society. This is analphabetizedlistings of "heads of dwelling."
Visiting hours for those wishing to research records in the Clerk's Office are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except forpublic holidays. A visit to this well-organized and hospitable records repository is certain to be a rewarding experience.
For those who wish to avail themselves of the information found at the Clerk's Office without a personal visit, the address of theClerk of the Court is:
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pittsylvania County, P. O. Drawer 31, Chatham, Virginia 24531-0031, Attn: H.F. Haymore,Jr.(804) 432 7887
The Clerk of Court will honor specific requests for copyingdocuments(an item or two, no research involved, if book and page numberare suppliedby requester). Marriage certificates are provided (certified copies) at$3.00 each; all other copies are provided at $1.00 per page.(An individual making copies without staff assistance may use the copierin the officefor $0.25 per page.)
If an individual lacks specific book and page number information,andcannot go to th Clerk's Office in person to do the research needed,it issuggested by the Clerk of Court that one of the following professional genealogists be contacted.
Mary L. Boisseau,3240 Drury Lane, Danville, Virginia 24540 (804836-5435 after 5 p.m.)
Mrs. Lonnie Crosby, Rt. 4, Box 289, Gretna, Va. 34557 (804-656-2109)
Steven B. Harris, Rt. 4m Box 341, Gretna, Va. 24557 (804-656-1814 after5 p.m.)
The Pittsylvania County Library
PO Box 1049, Center Street
Chatham, Virginia 24531
Hours: 9A.M. to 8 P.M. Monday through Thursday and 9 P.M. to 5 P.M. on Friday plus 10 A.M. through 12 Noon on Saturday.
The library has the histories of a number of local families on file. Some are circulating and some are not. Those that are non-circulating require personal or hired research since the library has no staff available at any time to reproduce these documents for patrons. In other words, unless one comes to the library and performs the search,it will be necessary to hire a genealogist or private researcher. The following family records are stored in acid free boxes and are non-circulating. For the most part, they are in typed manuscript form and range in size from twenty to 150 pages. Included are those from the following families: William Lewis, George William Henson, The Dalton Genealogy, Whitehead, Tredway, Watson, Hunt, Edward Tatum, Robertson and related families, Yates, Drewry and Whittle.
The following are hard cover bound books of varying sizes. Some are circulating and some are not since they are listed as reference books. They include the names of the following families: Hamblen, Wingfield, Nelson, Hubbard, Sours, Keesee, Cabell, Rives and Shelton.
Glossary of Occupations
Accomptant Accountant
Almoner Giver of charity to the needy
Amanuensis Secretary or stenographer
Artificer A soldier mechanic who does repairs
Bailie Bailiff
Baxter Baker
Bluestocking Female writer
Boniface Keeper of an inn
Brazier One who works with brass
Brewster Beer manufacturer
Brightsmith Metal Worker
Burgonmaster Mayor
Caulker One who filled up cracks (in ships or windows)
or seems to make them watertight by using tar or oakum-hemp fiber
produced by taking old ropes apart
Chaisemaker Carriage maker
Chandler Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries
Chiffonnier Wig maker
Clark Clerk
Clerk Clergyman, cleric
Clicker The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers; onewho received the matter in the galley from the compositors and arrangedit indue form ready for printing; one who makes eyelet holes inboots usinga machine which clicked.
Cohen Priest
Collier Coal miner
Colporteur Peddler of books
Cooper One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves & hoops, such as casks, barrels, tubs, etc.
Cordwainer Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova/Cordoba in Spain
Costermonger Peddler of fruits and vegetables
Crocker Potter
Crowner Coroner
Currier One who dresses the coat of a horse with a curry
comb; one who tanned leather by incorporating oilorgrease
Docker Stevedore, dock worker who loads and unloads cargo
Dowser One who finds water using a rod or witching stick
Draper A dealer in dry goods
Drayman One who drives a long strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavyloads
Dresser A surgeon's assistant in a hospital
Drover One who drives cattle, sheep, etc. to market; a dealer in cattle
Duffer Peddler
Factor Agent, commission merchant; one who acts or transacts business foranother; Scottish steward or bailiff of an estate
Farrier A blacksmith, one who shoes horses
Faulkner Falconer
Fell monger One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making
Fletcher One who made bows and arrows
Fuller One who fulls cloth;one who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth by moistening, heating, and pressing; one who cleans and finishes cloth
Gaoler A keeper of the goal, a jailer
Glazier Window glassman
Hacker Maker of hoes
Hatcheler One who combed out or carded flax
Haymonger Dealer in hay
Hayward Keeper of fences
Higgler Itinerant peddler
Hillier Roof tiler
Hind A farm laborer
Hoslter A groom who took care of horses, often at an inn
Hooker Reaper
Hooper One who made hoops for casks and barrels
Huckster Sells small wares
Husbandman A farmer who cultivated the land
Jagger Fish peddler
Journeyman One who had served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft, notbound to serve a master, but hired by the day
Joyner/Joiner A skilled carpenter
Keeler Bargeman
Kempster Wool comber
Lardner Keeper of the cupboard
Lavender Washer woman
Lederer Leather maker
Leech Physician
Longshoreman Stevedore
Lormer Maker of horse gear
Malender Farmer
Maltster Brewer
Manciple A steward
Mason Bricklayer
Mintmaster One who issued local currency
Monger Seller of goods (ale, fish)
Muleskinner Teamster
Neatherder Herds cows
Ordinary Keeper Innkeeper with fixed prices
Pattern Maker A maker of a clog shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole withapattern cut into the end
Peregrinator Itinerant wanderer
Peruker A wig maker
Pettifogger A shyster lawyer
Pigman Crockery dealer
Plumber One who applied sheet lead for roofing and set lead frames for plain orstained glass windows.
Porter Door keeper
Puddler Wrought iron worker
Quarrier Quarry worker
Rigger Hoist tackle worker
Ripper Seller of fish
Roper Maker of rope or nets
Saddler One who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other frnishings for horses
Sawbones Physician
Sawyer One who saws; carpenter
Schumacker Shoemaker
Scribler A minor or worthless author
Scrivener Professional or public copyist or writer; notary public
Scrutiner Election judge
Shrieve Sheriff
Slater Roofer
Slopseller Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop shop
Snobscat/Snob One who repaired shoes
Sorter Tailor
Spinster A woman who spins or an unmarried woman
Spurrer Maker of spurs
Squire Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of peace
Stuff gown Junior barrister
Stuff gownsman Junior barrister
Supercargo Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship
Tanner One who tans (cures) animal hides into leather
Tapley One who puts the tap in an ale cask
Tasker Reaper
Teamster One who drives a team for hauling
Thatcher Roofer
Tide waiter Customs inspector
Tinker An itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman
Tipstaff Policeman
Travers Toll bridge collection
Tucker Cleaner of cloth goods
Turner A person who turns wood on a lathe into spindles
Victualer A tavern keeper, or one who provides an army, navy, or ship with food supplies
Vulcan Blacksmith
Wagoner Teamster not for hire
Wainwright Wagon maker
Waiter Customs officer or tide waiter; one who waited on the tide to collect duty on goods brought in
Waterman Boatman who plies for hire
Webster Operator of looms
Wharfinger Owner of a wharf
Wheelwright One who made or repaired wheels; wheeled carriages, etc.
Whitesmith Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work
Whitewing Street sweeper
Whitster Bleach of cloth
Wright Workman, especially a construction worker
Yeoman Farmer who owns his own land
Virginia Parishes 1607-1785
Here is a list of theVirginia Parishes 1607-1785. These parishes served
as local units of government, as well as of religious and community
organization. In colonial Virginia, parishes and their boundaries were
established (and altered) by act of the General Assembly. Afterthe16
January 1786 General Assembly passage of Thomas Jefferson's Billfor
Establishing Religious Freedom, parishes continued to exist, but were no
longer official units of state government. The county is listedfirst,
followed by the parish(es) associated with that county.
Accomack - Accomack; St. George's
Albemarle - Fredericksville; St. Anne's; Tillotson
Amelia - Nottoway; Raleigh
Amherst - Amherst; Lexington
Augusta - Augusta
Bedford - Cumberland; Russell
Botetourt - Botetourt
Brunswick - Meherrin; St. Andrew's
Buckingham - Tillotson
Campbell - Russell
Caroline - Drysdale; St. Anne's; St. Asaph's; St. Margaret's; St.Mary's
Charles City - Bristol; Charles City; Chickahominy; Flowerdew Hundred;
Jordan's Journey; Martin's Brandon; Smith's Hundred; Southampton;
Wallingford, West and Shirley; Westover; Weyanoke; Wilmington
Charles River - Same list as York County
Charlotte - Cornwall
Chesterfield - Dale; King William; Manchester
Culpeper - Bromfield; St. Mark's
Cumberland - King William; Littleton; St. James; Southam
Dinwiddie - Bath; Bristol
Dunmore - Beckford
Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City; Kecoughtan; Lower Parish of Elizabeth
City County; Nutmeg Quarter; Stanley Hundred;Upper Parish of
Elizabeth City County; Waters Creek
Essex - St. Anne's; St. George's; St. Mary's; Sittenburne; SouthFarnham
Fairfax - Cameron; Fairfax; Truro
Fauquier - Hamilton; Leeds
Fluvanna - Fluvanna
Franklin - Patrick; Russell
Frederick - Beckford; Frederick; Norborne
Gloucester - Abingdon, Kingston, Petsworth, Ware
Goochland - King William; St. James Northam; St. James's; St. James
Southam
Greensville - Meherrin; St. Andrew's
Halifax - Antrim
Hanover - St. Martin's; St. Paul's
Henrico - Bristol; Dale; Henrico or Varina; King William; St. James's
Henry - Camden; Patrick
Isle of Wight - Lower; Newport; Nottoway; Upper; Warrosquyoake
James City - Argall's Gift; Blisland; Bruton; Chickahominy; Chippokes;
Harrop; Hog Island; James City; Lawnes Creek; Martin's Hundred;
Middle Plantation; Middletowne; St.Peter's; Southwark;
Wallingford; Wilmington; Yorkhampton
King and Queen - Drysdale; St. John's; St. Stephen's; Stratton Major
King George - Brunswick; Hanover; Overwharton; St. Paul's Sittenburne
King William - St. David's; St. John's; St. Margaret's
Lancaster - Christ Church; Great Christ Church or Christ Church;
Lancaster; Lower; Piankatank;Poropotank; St. Mary's Whitechapel;
Trinity; Upper
Loudoun - Cameron; Shelburne
Louisa - Fredericksville; St. Martin's; Trinity
Lower Norfolk - Elizabeth River; Lynnhaven
Lunenburg - Cornwall; Cumberland; St. James's
Mecklenburg - St. James's
Middlesex - Christ Church
Montgomery - Montgomery
Nansemond - Chuckatuck; East; Lower; Lower Suffolk; South; Suffolk;
Upper; Upper Suffolk; West
New Kent - Blisland; St. John's; St. Paul's; St. Peter's; St. Stephen's;
Stratton Major
New Norfolk - Elizabeth River
Norfolk - Elizabeth River; Portsmouth; St. Brides
Northampton - Hungers; Lower; Northampton; Occohannock; Upper
Northumberland - Boutracy; Chickacoan; Fairfield; Lee; Nomini; St.
Stephen's; Wicomico
Old Rappahannock - Farnham; North Farnham; Piscataway; St. Mary's;
Sittenburne; South Farnham
Orange- St. Mark's; St. Thomas
Pittsylvania - Camden
Powhatan - King William; St. James Southam
Prince Edward - Nottoway; St. Patrick's
Prince George - Bath; Bristol; Martin's Brandon; Westover; Weyanoke
Princess Anne - Lynnhaven
Prince William - Dettingen; Hamilton; Leeds; Truro
Richmond - Hanover; Lunenburg; North Farnham; Richmond; St. Mary's;
Sittenburne
Rockbridge - Rockbridge
Rockingham - Rockingham
Shenandoah - Beckford
Southampton - Nottoway; St. Luke's
Spotsylvania - Berkeley; St. George's; St. Mark's
Stafford - Brunswick; Chotank; Hamilton; Lower; Overwharton; Potomac; St.
Paul's; Stafford;Upper
Surry - Albemarle; Lawnes Creek; Southwark
Sussex - Albemarle
Upper Norfolk - East; Elizabeth River; Lower; South; Upper; West
Warrosquyoake - Warrosquyoake
Warwick - Blount Point; Denbigh; Elizabeth City; Mulberry Island;Nutmeg
Quarter; Stanley Hundred;Warwick; Waters Creek
Warwick River - Same as Warwick County
Washington - Washington
Westmoreland - Appomattox; Chickacoan; Cople; Machodick; Nomini;Potomac;
Washington; Westbury
York - Blisland; Bruton; Charles; Charles River; Chiskiack; Hampton;
Marston; Middle Plantation; Middletowne; New Poquoson; York;
Yorkhampton
For the history of Parishes, see:
"The Hornbook of Virginia History", Ed. by Salmon and Campbell,The
Library of Virginia, 1994
"Parish Lines, Diocese of Southwestern Virginia" by Charles Francis
Cocke, VA State Library Publication No. 14, 1960, reprinted1980
"Parish Lines, Diocese of Southern Virginia" by Charles FrancisCocke, VA
State Library Publication No. 22, 1964, reprinted 1979
"Parish Lines, Diocese of Virginia" by Charles Francis Cocke, VaState
Library Publication No. 28, 1967, reprinted 1978
Contributed by Annette EWetzel awetzel@juno.com