Brunswick County, Virginia Genealogy

United States   Virginia    Brunswick County





History


The county was named after the Duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg in modern-day Germany.

Parent County
1720--Brunswick County was created 2 November 1720 from Prince George, Isle of Wight and Surry Counties. County seat: Lawrenceville

Record Loss

 * Lost census: 1890

African American

 * Heinegg, Paul. "Brunswick County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1815," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Cemeteries
For a detailed list, including addresses, phone numbers, and external links, see Brunswick County, Virginia Cemeteries.

The following is a list of cemeteries in Brunswick County:


 * Wilkes, Charles Fred. "Wilkes Burial Ground, 'Charlie's Hope,' Brunswick County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1971):135-136. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).

Census
1890 Union Veterans


 * Turner, Ronald Ray. Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. Available online, courtesy: Prince William County Virginia website. [Includes residents of this county.]

DNA
DNA has been collected from men claiming descent from the following Brunswick County, Virginia residents. Attempts have not been made to verify the lineages of those tested.


 * [Fletcher] Descendant of James Fletcher, b. c1680s, resident of Prince George County, Virginia, d. 1733 Brunswick County, Virginia. Y-DNA 37 Marker Test, FTDNA. Genetic signature available online (labelled William Fletcher of Accomac County, Virginia/James Fletcher of Brunswick County, Virginia), courtesy: The Fletcher DNA Project.
 * [Harrison] Descendant of Benjamin Harrison, b. c1720, d. 1790 Brunswick County, Virginia. Y-DNA 67 Marker Test, FTDNA (labelled H-18, Lineage 2). Genetic signature available online, courtesy: The Harrison DNA Project, World Families Network.
 * [Harrison] Descendant of John Harrison, b. 1760 of Brunswick County, Virginia, d. 1822. Y-DNA 67 Marker Test, FTDNA (labelled H-101, Lineage 2). Genetic signature available online, courtesy: The Harrison DNA Project, World Families Network.

Genealogy
More than 30 genealogies have been published about Brunswick County families. To view a list, visit Brunswick County, Virginia Genealogy.

Immigration

 * Ljungstedt, Milnor. "Items from Southern Records" [Showing Family and Trade Connections with Northern Colonies and the Home Countries], The American Genealogist, Vol. 15 (1938):95-104. Available at New England Ancestors ($). [Brunswick Co., VA surname: Godwyn.]
 * [http://www.immigrantservants.com/search/advancedResults.php?surname=&givenName=&varientSurnameSpellings=&gender=&dateOfBirthDay=&dateOfBirthMonth=&dateOfBirthQuantifier=&dateOfBirthYear=&placeOfBirthParish=&placeOfBirthTown=&placeOfBirthCity=&placeOfBirthCounty=&placeOfBirthColony=&placeOfBirthNation=&occupations=&religions=&orphan=&familyPosition=&immigrationYearQualifier=&immigrationYear=&portOfDepartureTown=&portOfDepartureCity=&portOfDepartureCounty=&portOfDepartureNation=&placeOfArrivalTown=&placeOfArrivalCounty=&placeOfArrivalColony=&shipName=&convict=&yearOfIndentureQualifier=&yearOfIndenture=&lengthOfIndentureYears=&lengthOfIndentureMonths=&yearOfFreedomQualifier=&yearOfFreedom=&placeOfIndentureTown=&placeOfIndentureCity=&placeOfIndentureCounty=Brunswick&placeOfIndentureColony=Virginia&agentSurname=&agentGivenName=&agentTitle=&masterSurname=&masterGivenName=&masterTitle=&residenceParish=&residenceTown=&residenceCity=&residenceCounty=&residenceColony=&residenceNation=&landowner=&literate=&spouseSurname=&spouseGivenName=&spouseMarriageDateDay=&spouseMarriageDateMonth=&spouseMarriageDateQualifier=&spouseMarriageDateYear=&spouseMarriageLocationParish=&spouseMarriageLocationCounty=&spouseMarriageLocationColony=&spouseMarriageLocationNation=&deathDateDay=&deathDateMonth=&deathDateQualifier=&deathDateYear=&deathLocality=&deathCounty=&deathColony=&deathState=&testate=&proofServantStatus=&proofConvictStatus=&headright=&preServitudeSources=&postServitudeSources=&comments=&family=&sourceCitations=&interestedResearchers= List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe] who served labor terms in Colonial Brunswick County, Virginia (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.

Land
Deeds


 * "Brunswick County, Virginia, Deeds, Wills, Etc., No. 1, 1732-1740," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1957):73-79; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1957):124-131; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1957):163-168; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1958):33-37; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1958):87-90; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1958):124-127; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1958):172-176; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1959):27-33; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):65-70; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1959):103-112; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1959):153-161. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).

Grants and Patents


 * Hudgins. 520 patents dated 1717-1801 in what is now Brunswick County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2002. [Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Brunswick County's 1787 Delinquent List appears on p. 254]
 * Elliott, Katherine B. Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 2 vols. South Hill, Virginia: K.B. Elliott, 1966. Vol. 1 of original edition available at FHL; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at FHL; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at FHL. [Includes individuals who migrated out of Brunswick County to other parts of the country.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. [Identifies some Brunswick County militia officers, soldier enlistments, and veterans; see place name index.]
 * Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. Available at FHL; digital version at Google Books. [Includes a chapter titled "Legislative Enactments connecting the preceding historic sketch [French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore's War] with the adjudication of the resulting accounts that follow; with the list of officers, soldiers and civilians entitled to compensation for military and other services rendered." For Brunswick County, see p. 68-69.]
 * Bracey, Mrs. Carstairs. "Soldiers From Brunswick County, Virginia, in the French and Indian War," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1979):193-194.
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).FHL; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some Brunswick County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.]

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, Brunswick County on page 129.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]

War of 1812

 * Douthat, James L. Roster of War of 1812, Southside, Virginia. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2007. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. 975.5 M2djL. [Includes Brunswick County.]
 * List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Brunswick County, p. 64.]

Newspapers
Indexed images of the Virginia Gazette(1736-1780) are available online through the Colonial Williamsburgwebsite. In addition, Professor Tom Costa and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia have created a database of all runaway advertisements for slaves, indentured servants, transported convicts, and ship deserters listed in this source and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: The Geography of Slavery in Virginia. These newspapers are valuable resources for all regions of Virginia.

Probate
SamPubCo has created a free online resource that serves as a good starting place to search for Colonial Brunswick County wills:


 * Brunswick County, Virginia Will Testators Index, Books 1-3 (1732-1769)

Other Brunswick County probate resources include:


 * "Brunswick County, Virginia, Deeds, Wills, Etc., No. 1, 1732-1740," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1957):73-79; Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1957):124-131; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1957):163-168; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1958):33-37; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1958):87-90; Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1958):124-127; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1958):172-176; Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1959):27-33; Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):65-70; Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1959):103-112; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1959):153-161. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).
 * Hopkins, William Lindsay. Some Wills from the Burned Counties of Virginia and Other Wills Not Listed in Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800. Richmond, Virginia: W.L. Hopkins, 1987. Available at FHL. [Includes Brunswick County.]

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Brunswick County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1962):34-38. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).
 * Pritchett, John W. "Genealogical Research in Brunswick County," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 32, No. 3 (2006). Available at FHL.

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1748] "Brunswick County, Va., Poll List, 1748," William and Mary College Quarterly, 1st Series, Vol. 26 (1917):59-64. Available at FHL; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at FHL; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1782] Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. Available at FHL. [1782 personal property tax list of Brunswick County.]
 * [1782-1815] Heinegg, Paul. "Brunswick County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1815," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * [1787] Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Available at FHL. [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Brunswick County is included in Vol. 1.]
 * [1787] Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):248-254. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Brunswick County's 1787 Delinquent List appears on p. 254]
 * [1788, 1798] Indexed images of the 1788 and 1798 Personal Property Tax Lists of Brunswick County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1800] "Brunswick County, Virginia, 1800 Tax List," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1967):35-38; Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1967):67-70; Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1967):116-120; Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1967):175-178. Available at FHL; digital version at New England Ancestors($).
 * [1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Brunswick County is included in Vol. 2.]

Vital Records
Birth

Beth Fridley has published abstracts of Brunswick County births from 1853 through 1896 online at Ancestry:


 * Brunswick County, Virginia Births, 1853-62 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * Brunswick County, Virginia Births, 1865-73 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * Brunswick County, Virginia Births, 1874-79 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * Brunswick County, Virginia Births, 1880-96 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).

Marriage


 * Fothergill, Augusta B. Marriage Records of Brunswick County, Virginia, 1730 - 1852. [S.l.]: A.B. Fothergill, 1953. Available at FHL; digital version at World Vital Records ($).

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog