Portsmouth (Independent City), Virginia Genealogy

Description
The City of Portsmouth is located in the Eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and named for Portsmouth, England.

Courthouse
For additional records, see Norfolk County.

Parent County
1858--Portsmouth was created in 1858 from Norfolk County.

Newspapers

 * The Portsmouth Star newspaper contained a column for African American residents, which began in 1924. Colored Notes was originally authored by Jeffrey T. Wilson; the inaugural year has been indexed and can be accessed through the Portsmouth Public Library.

Chancery Court

 * Indexes and images to Portsmouth, Virginia Chancery Records 1859-1932 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, which were often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will of a resident of Portsmouth proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Revolutionary War

 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Portsmouth County [sic] on page 133.]

Civil War
Civil War records for Portsmouth were kept by the city.

Newspapers

 * 1787-1789 - Norfolk and Portsmouth Journal at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1789 - Norfolk and Portsmouth Gazette at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1811-1859 - Norfolk &amp; Portsmouth Herald at Google News - free.


 * 1820-1833 - The Norfolk and Portsmouth Herald at Google News - free.

Occupations

 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. Available at . [Includes a section on Portsmouth silversmiths.]

Probate
London Courts


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will of a resident of Portsmouth proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Birth

 * 1857-1896 - Births, 1857-1896 (African-American)
 * 1858-1896 - Portsmouth Birth Index 1858-1896. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1858-1901 - Marriages, 1858-1901
 * 1858-1901 - Portsmouth Marriage Index 1858-1901. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1902-1906 - Marriages, 1902-1906
 * 1921-1925 - Marriages, 1921-1925
 * 1928, 1931 - Marriages, 1928 &amp; 1931
 * 1935-1937 - Marriages, 1935-1937

Death

 * 1858-1896 - Portsmouth Death Index 1858-1896. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * Burials, Lincoln (African-American)
 * Burials, St. Paul's / Catholic

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Portsmouth Virginia Family History Center