Lancaster County, Virginia Genealogy

United States &gt; Virginia &gt; Lancaster County





A county in the Northern Neck region of Virginia. Established 1652.

Parent County
1652--Lancaster County was created in 1652 from Northumberland and York Counties. County seat: Lancaster

Neighboring Counties

 * Essex
 * Middlesex
 * Northumberland
 * Richmond

African American

 * Burkett, Brigitte. Lancaster County Virginia, Register of Free Negroes 1803-1860. Richmond, Virginia: B. Burkett, 1999.
 * Cowling, Dorothy Norris C. Historical Notes on the Life and Achievements of Blacks in Lancaster County and the State of Virginia (1619-1974). 1991. A Study Sponsored by the Lancaster County African American Historical Society.
 * Jett, Carolyn. Runaway Slaves (Servants), Lancaster County, Virginia, 1736-1775. Lancaster, Virginia: Mary Ball Washington Museum, 2000.
 * Sutton, Karen Elizabeth. Black, Red and Revolutionary: Free African Americans of Lancaster and Northumberland Counties, Virginia, in the Era of the American Revolution. University of Maryland, 1997.
 * Van Riemsdijk, Tatiana. "His Slaves or Hers? Customary Claims, a Planter Marriage, and a Community Verdict in Lancaster County, 1793," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 113, No. 1 (2005):46-79. Available at JSTOR ($).

Cemeteries

 * Heiger, Herman J. "Blakey Graveyard, Lancaster County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1970):136. Available at New England Ancestors ($).

Census
1850


 * 1850 Census of Lancaster County, Virginia. The Mary Ball Memorial Museum and Library, Inc., 1968. Reviewed in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1969):88. Review available at New England Ancestors ($).

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.]

Church


Baptist


 * Norris, Robert O. "History of Lebanon Baptist Church Lancaster County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 9 (1959).

Church of England


 * Dawe, Louise Belote. "Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 18 (1968).
 * Herndon, Richard T. "The Restoration of Historic Christ Church," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 24 (1974).
 * "John Carter, Robert Carter and Historic Christ Church," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 52 (2002).
 * Mason, George Carrington. "The Colonial Churches of Northumberland and Lancaster Counties, Virginia," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Apr. 1946):137-151; Vol. 54, No. 3 (Jul. 1946):233-243. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Peirce, Elizabeth Combs. "Saint Marys White Chapell, Parish Church of Saint Marys White Chapell Parish, Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 5 (1955).
 * Rawley, Heath J. "Glebe Lands on Carter's Creek Lancaster County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 15 (1965).
 * "The Early Churches of Northern Neck (Beulah Hinton Marsh)--Aquia Church in Stafford County, Christ Church Lancaster County, Farnham Church in Richmond County, Lamb's Creek Church in King George County, St. Mary's White Chapel in Lancaster County, St. Paul's Church in King George County, Yeocomico Church in Westmoreland County--Baptist Churches of White Marsh in Lancaster, Morattico Baptist, Nomini in Westmoreland, Farnham in Richmond, Hanover Baptist in King George," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 2 (1952).
 * Woolverton, John F. "Address Commemorating The 300th Anniversary of St. Mary's White Chapel, Lancaster County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 19 (1969).

Presbyterian


 * "An Order Prohibiting the Erection of a Presybterian Church in Lancaster County in 1759 titled 'Lancaster County, Virginia Court Records, Deed Book 15, p. 321,'" Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 13 (1963).
 * Gordon, James. "Journal of Col. James Gordon, of Lancaster County, Va.," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Oct. 1902):98-112. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Peirce, Elizabeth C. "Col. James Gordon's Presbyterian Meeting House - Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 17 (1967).

Court
General


 * Peirce, Elizabeth Combs. "Courthouses of Lancaster County, 1656-1950," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 1 (1951).
 * Simmons. "Decades of Court History in Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 34 (1984).

Chancery Court


 * Indexed images of Lancaster County, Virginia Chancery Records 1722-1936 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

County Court


 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, 1652-1655. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub., Co., 1961. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes a guide to surviving records.]
 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, Record Book No. 2, 1654-1666 [pages 1-394]. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1961. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Peirce, Elizabeth C. "Lancaster County Order Book Fifteen July 1770-1778: Ten Selected Entries," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 9 (1959).
 * "Rules of Lancaster Court in 1671," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Apr. 1897):264. Available at JSTOR ($).

Superior Court of Chancery

The Superior Court of Chancery of Fredericksburg (1802-1831) had jurisdiction over certain Fairfax County court cases. An index has been compiled:


 * Indexes of Court Records in the Clerk's Office, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 1782-1904. Original records, Fredericksburg City Courthouse, Fredericksburg, Va., microfilmed reproduction available at FHL. [Indexes the following records: District Court law book v. 8, 1782-1792; District Court law books 1790-1793, v. A-F 1789-1811; Superior Court of Law law order books v. G-H 1812-1831; Superior Court of Chancery chancery order books 1814-1831; Hustings Court orders v. A-O 1782-1871; Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery law order books v. A-E 1831-1875; Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery chancery order books v. A-D 1831-1872; Circuit Court chancery order books v. A2, B-C 1875-1904; Fredericksburg District Court (1789-1808) had jurisdiction over the following counties: Spotsylvania (including Fredericksburg), Caroline, King George, Stafford, Orange, and Culpeper; Superior Court of Chancery (1802-1831) had jurisdiction over the following localities: city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fairfax, Lancaster, Northumberland, Madison, King George, Orange, Prince William, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Essex, and Westmoreland.]

Genealogy
More than 50 genealogies have been published about Lancaster County families. To view a list, visit Lancaster County, Virginia Genealogy.

Historic Residences

 * McKenney. "Morattico Plantation--Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 38 (1988).
 * Wharton, James. "The Lost Settlement of Queenstown, Plow Turns Up Early Trace of Early Port," [Lancaster County] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 10 (1960).

Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of Lancaster City and Lancaster County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]
 * "Colonial Convicts of the Northern Neck," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 52 (2002).
 * Jett, Carolyn. Runaway Slaves (Servants), Lancaster County, Virginia, 1736-1775. Lancaster, Virginia: Mary Ball Washington Museum, 2000.
 * [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=Lancaster&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 Lancaster County, Virginia (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.
 * 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 ($). [Lancaster Co., VA record surnames: Burgess, Chauncey, Cosens, Davenport, Eustace, Hambleton, Hayward, Hayworth, Howard, Jauncey, Marshal, Smyth.]

Land
Grants and Patents


 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1694-1742. Vol. I. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry. [Includes Lancaster County.]
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Lancaster County.]
 * Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666. Vol. I (1934; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1991). Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Lancaster County. N.B. If Ancestry's search engine fails, try checking the printed index at the end of the book.]

Record Books


 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, Record Book No. 2, 1654-1666 [pages 1-394]. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1961. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($).

Local Histories

 * "Lancaster County History; An Antient Planter," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 51 (2001).
 * Norris, Robert O. "Some Unusual Happenings in the Colonial Life of Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 8 (1958).

Military
Colonial Militia


 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. [Identifies some Lancaster County militia officers and/or soldiers; see place name index.]
 * "Colonial Militia, Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 12 (1962).
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FHL; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some Lancaster County militia officers; see place name index.]

French and Indian War


 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. [Identifies some Lancaster County militia officers, soldier enlistments, and veterans; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War


 * Gentry, Daphne. "Return of Recruits Raised in Lancaster County, 1781," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1979):173-174. Available at New England Ancestors ($).
 * Nottingham, Stratton. Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors from Lancaster County, Virginia: Muster Rolls and Pay Rolls of the Ninety-second Regiment of Virginia Militia, Lancaster County, 1812. Onancock, Virginia: S. Nottingham, 1930. Available at FHL.
 * O'Dell, Jeffrey M. "The War of Independence and the Northern Neck of Virginia," [Chapter VI, Lancaster County, Justices, Captains] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 21 (1971).
 * Sutton, Karen Elizabeth. Black, Red and Revolutionary: Free African Americans of Lancaster and Northumberland Counties, Virginia, in the Era of the American Revolution. University of Maryland, 1997.

Civil War


 * Sherrill, Sandra P. and Ladies Memorial Association. The Confederate Memorial of Lancaster County, Virginia, Erected in 1872 by the Ladies Memorial Society. 199-?. Available at FHL.

World Wars


 * Lowery, Margaret Palmer. "John Chowning Gresham: The Northern Neck's First Medal of Honor Winner," [of Plainview, Lancaster County] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 20 (1970).

Native American

 * Philips, John. "Indian Affairs in Lancaster County," [1653] The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jan. 1896):177-179. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * "The Treaty of Lancaster, 1744," [Indian] The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Oct. 1905):141-142. Available at JSTOR ($).

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.

Occupations
Philip Alexander Bruce's book Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century (Vol. II, 1896, p. 334 footnote 1) includes a list of early English merchants in Lancaster County.


 * Booker, Motley and Norman R. Tingle. "Andrew Robertson - Pioneer Physician of Lancaster County, Virginia," [Andrew Robertson, b. 1716 in Inverness, Scotland] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 22 (1972).
 * Sadtler, Otis K. "Post Offices in Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 2 (1952).

Officials

 * Peirce, Alice Clark. "Members of the House of Burgesses of Lancaster County, Including Members of Conventions of 1773-1776," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 12 (1962).
 * Tyler, Lyon G. "Burgesses of Lancaster County," [1651-1740] The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Apr. 1897):260-261. Available at JSTOR ($).

Petitions

 * "Miscellaneous Legislative Petitions From The Counties of Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland and Lancaster," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 10 (1960).
 * Kreiser, Barnette. "Lancaster County Court Independency Oath," [1776] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 26 (1976).

Private Papers

 * [Currie] "Letter from John Currie of 'Verville,' Lancaster County, To His Mother (Civil War, not dated)," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 9 (1959).
 * [Currie] Dawe, Louise Belote. "'Your Affectionate Son John,' Some letters from John Currie to his family at Verville, Lancaster County, Virginia 1862-1865," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 19 (1969).
 * [Derby] "A Letter Written by Miss Hattie Derby, Age 19, Neice of the Rev. Henry Derby, Rector of Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia To a Cousin Living in Sussex County, Virginia, dated Lancaster C. H., Dec. 21st, 1881," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 9 (1959).
 * [Gordon] Gordon, James. "Journal of Col. James Gordon, of Lancaster County, Va.," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Oct. 1902):98-112. Available at JSTOR ($).

Probate
Local Court


 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, Record Book No. 2, 1654-1666 [pages 1-394]. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1961. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Lancaster County, Virginia Estate Records 1835-1865 Database Project of the Mary Ball Washington Museum includes abstracts of estate records, wills, and related court documents.
 * Lee, Ida J. Abstracts Lancaster County, Virginia Wills 1653-1800. Richmond [Virginia]: Dietz Press, 1959. Available at FHL; digital version at Family History Archives; and World Vital Records ($).
 * Watts, Dorothy C and William H. Watts. Index to Ida J. Lee's Abstracts of Lancaster County Virginia Wills 1653-1800. Albuquerque, New Mexico: D.C. Watts and W.H. Watts, 1987.

London Courts


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of Lancaster City and Lancaster County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Lancaster County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1971):273-275. Available at New England Ancestors ($).
 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, 1652-1655. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub., Co., 1961. Available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes a guide to surviving records.]
 * Kreiser, Barnette. "The Restoration of Early Lancaster County Records," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 27 (1977).

Schools

 * Dobyns, Louise Towles. "Early Public Education in Lancaster County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 24 (1974).

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1652-1720] Jones, Christine Adams and Donna Helmuth. Early Lancaster County Tithables 1652-1720.
 * [1654] "Tithables of Lancaster County, Va., 1654," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct. 1897):158-169; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Jan. 1898):249-260; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Apr. 1898):429-434. Available at FHL; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at FHL; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1659] Tithables, 1659, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 1, No. 1 (May 1992). Available at FHL.
 * [1668] Tithables, 1668, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Aug. 1993); Vol. 2, No. 3 (Nov. 1993). Available at FHL.
 * [1696] Wayne, A.A. "Tithables, Lancaster County, Va., Court of December 1696, Court Order Book 1696 to 1702, Page 7," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 24 (1942):122-125. Available at FHL; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at FHL.
 * [1701] "Tithable Persons in the Parishes of Christ Church and St. Mary's White Chapel, 1701," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 16 (1966).
 * [1716] "Tithables in Lancaster Co., 1716," The William and Mary Quarterly, 1st Series, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Oct. 1912):106-112. Available at FHL; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at FHL; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1716] Tax List, 1716, St. Marys White Chapel Parish, Virginia Tidewater Genealogy, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Sep. 1977). Available at FHL.
 * [1745-1798] Lancaster County, Virginia Tithables, 1745-1798. Original records, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; also available on microfilm at FHL.
 * [1782] Records, 1782, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Aug. 1999). Available at FHL.
 * [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. Lancaster County is included in Vol. 2.]
 * [1786, 1800] Indexed images of the 1786 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Lancaster County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1789, 1797] Indexed images of the 1789 and 1797 Land Tax Lists of Lancaster County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1800] Tax List, 1800, Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct. 1990). Available at FHL.
 * [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. Lancaster County is included in Vol. 3.]

Vital Records
Marriage


 * Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often; Marriages of the Northern Neck 1649-1800. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2003.
 * "Lancaster County Marriages," [1790s] The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Jan. 1910):176-178. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Lee, Ida Johnson. Lancaster County, Virginia, Marriage Bonds, 1652 - 1850. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1972. Available at FHL; and World Vital Records ($).
 * "Marriage Bonds in Lancaster County," [1710s-1790s] The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Oct. 1897):103-108; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Oct. 1903):96-103; Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jan. 1904):175-183. Available at JSTOR ($).

Societies and Libraries

 * Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library
 * The Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society

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
 * "Northern Neck," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Neck.