Sussex County, Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Sussex County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Sussex County is located in the eastern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named after Sussex County, England.

County Courthouse
Sussex County Courthouse 15088 Courthouse Road P.O. Box 1315 State Route 735 Sussex, VA 23884 Phone: 434-246-1096 Sussex County Website Clerk Circuit Court has birth, marriage, probate, court and land records from 1754

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Sussex County, Virginia was formed as the result of a law passed by the Virginia General Assembly in November, 1753. This created Sussex County from southwestern Surry County in 1754.

The county is named after the English county of Sussex.

Sussex County, Virginia's county seat is Sussex, where county records were kept in the Dillard House, which was built in 1802, until a courthouse could be erected.

Early in its history, Sussex County was a part of the Anglican parish known as Albemarle Parish.

Bible Records

 * 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Census Records
1782 Enumeration
 * Sussex County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 44.

1840
 * Evans, June Banks. Census of 1840, Sussex County, Virginia. New Orleans, Louisiana: Bryn Ffyliaid Publications, 1990. Available at.

1890 Union Veterans
 * Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner..
 * 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census. Online at: Ancestry ($). Includes residents of this county.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
 * 1) High Hills of Nottoway (1787)
 * 2) Otterdam (by 1790)
 * 3) Raccoon's Swamp (1772)
 * 4) Sappony (by 1775)
 * 5) Seacock (1787)

Sussex County fell within the bounds of the Portsmouth Association.

Church of England See also Albemarle Parish Meade's 1861 history of parishes in Sussex County is available online at Internet Archive.
 * Boddie, John Bennett. Births, Deaths and Sponsors, 1717 - 1778 from the Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield, 1998. Available at.
 * Davis, Virginia Lee Hutcheson, and Andrew Wilburn Hogwood. Albemarle Parish Vestry Book, 1742-1786, Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia. Baltimore: Clearfield, 2005.
 * Mason, George Carrington. Colonial Churches of Tidewater Virginia. Richmond, Va.: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, 1945. Available at ; digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.

Quaker Early monthly meetings (with years of existence): Friends from Sussex County, Virginia also attended the Blackwater Monthly Meeting in Surry County, Virginia.
 * Stanton's Monthly Meeting (1760-1829)

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * Court and Legislative Records, Sussex County, Virginia USGenWeb Archives

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African American
 * Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Sussex County.
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Deeds of Emancipation, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenWeb Archives
 * Doyle, Stuart. Roots Exposed: The lineage and interrelationships of 15 families from Virginia’s Sussex, Southampton and Greensville counties. Orlando, Fla. 2002.  Roots Exposed
 * Heinegg, Paul. "Sussex County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1818," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * Johnson, Martha C. Black Families of Elizabeth City Co., VA, 1800-1990: Research of Families of Callis, Davis, Simpson, Radcliff, Originating from Gloucester Co., Mathews Co., York and James Counties and Elizabeth Co., Hampton, Virginia. Microfilmed reproduction available at . Includes information about the Bassette family of Sussex County, Virginia.
 * Judkins Family Association. The Judkins Journal. [Newsletter] 16 vols. plus supplement. Available at.

Funeral Homes

 * 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Genealogies
Compiled Genealogies by Surname A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 * See Sussex County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles, or jump to the surname using the alphabet bar.

Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families
 * Bible Records, Sussex County, Virginia USGenWeb Archives
 * Biographies and Family Histories, Sussex County, Virginia USGenWeb Archives
 * Doyle, Stuart W. Roots Exposed the Lineage and Interrelationships of 15 Family Branches from Virginia's Sussex, Southampton and Greensville Counties. [Orlando, Fla.?]: S.W. Doyle, 2002. . Includes Clanton, Graves, Heath, Hill, Hunnicutt, Maine, Massenburg, Reese, Seaborne, Smith, Vaughn, West, Wright and related families.
 * Pritchett, John W. Southside Virginia Genealogies. CD-ROM. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Free online index, courtesy: Virginians - The Family History of John W. Pritchett. [Includes a great deal of information about residents of Sussex County, see discussion of cited sources.].
 * Ricks, Joel and William G. Stanard. W.G. Stanard's Extracts from Virginia Records (in Three Parts). MSS., 1942-1943, microfilmed reproduction: . Includes genealogical and biographical notes about residents of Sussex County.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Deeds
 * Hopkins, William Lindsay. Sussex County, Virginia Deed Books A-E, 1754-March 1779. Richmond, Virginia: W.L. Hopkins, 1990. Available at . WorldCat link.
 * Bradley, Stephen E. The Deeds of Sussex County, Virginia, 1779-1792. (Deed Books F and G) Keysville, Virginia: S.E. Bradley, 1993. Available at.
 * Deeds, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenWeb Archives

Grants and Patents


 * Hudgins. 798 patents dated 1701-1818 in what is now Sussex County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. 2004. 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.

Local Histories

 * Virginia Writers' Program, Works Projects Administration, Sussex County: A Tale of Three Centuries. Richmond: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, 1942. ; digital version at Ancestry ($).

Historic Residences
 * Stephenson, Mary A. Old Homes in Surry &amp; Sussex. Richmond [Virginia]: Dietz Press, 1942.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Libre Map Project provides free access to detailed maps of Sussex Co., VA
 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Sussex County for European settlers included:
 * 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 ; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at ; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at . Includes individuals who migrated out of Sussex County to other parts of the country.
 * Atlantic Ocean
 * King's Highway about 1704
 * Secondary Coast Road late 1730s

Military Records
French and Indian War Revolutionary War
 * Military Records, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenWeb Archives
 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at . Online at: Ancestry ($). Identifies some Westmoreland County militia officers, soldier enlistments, and veterans; see place name index.
 * Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. Available at ; digital version at Internet Archive. Includes a chapter titled "Legislative Enactments connecting the preceding historic sketch (French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore's War) with the adjudication of the resulting accounts that follow; with the list of officers, soldiers and civilians entitled to compensation for military and other services rendered." For Sussex County, see p. 101.
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at ; digital book at Ancestry ($). Identifies some Accomack County militia officers; see place name index.
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Eastern District, Sussex County on page 133.
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans. Virginia section begins on page 238.

Regiments. Service men in Sussex County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Sussex County supplied soldiers for the:
 * - 4th Virginia Regiment
 * - 15th Virginia Regiment (8th Company)

War of 1812
 * 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 Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Virginia, Sussex County, p. 105. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Regiments. Sussex County men served in the 15th Regiment. Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * Deutsch, George E. "Murder and Mayhem Rides the Rails," Civil War Times Illustrated, Vol. 48, No. 6, Dec. 2009, pp. 38-44 (focuses largely on Sussex Co.). WorldCat link.

Regiments. Civil War service men in Sussex County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
 * - 5th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (12 months, 1861-62) (Mullins') (Confederate).
 * - 13th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (12th Months, 1861-62) (Confederate). Company D (Jackson's Avengers) and Company H (Sussex Light Dragoons).
 * - 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Liberty Guards).

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Sussex County. World War II
 * June 28, 1864 - Sappony Church, also known as Stony Creek Depot.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers

 * Indexed images of the Virginia Gazette (1736-1780) are available online through the Colonial Williamsburg website. 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.
 * Obituaries, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenWeb Archives

Other Records
 Private Papers 
 * Family Bible Records of Lamb and Driver Families. MSS., Smithfield Branch of the Isle of Wight Library, Smithfield, Va. Microfilmed reproduction available at.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1633-1800 Wills and Estate Records Index at Library of Virginia.*Sussex County, Virginia Probate Records,
 * 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * Hopkins, William Lindsay. Sussex County, Virginia Will Books A-F, 1754-1806. Richmond, Virginia: Self-published, 1990. WorldCat link.
 * Will and Estate Records, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenWeb Archives
 * Sussex County, Virginia Guardianship Records,
 * Images of Wills 1754-1764;1761-1771; 1771-1785 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * Guardian Accounts and Inventories 1754-1787; 1782-1789; 1789-1824; 1824-1831. Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * Wills and Inventories 1796-1806; 1796-1806; 1806-1812. Virginia Pioneers ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1777 Tithables, 1777, Southside Virginian. Richmond VA: Jan 1985. Vol. 3 Iss. 2; online at Internet Archive.
 * 1782 Sussex County, Virginia 1782 Tax List: In order by surname; index online at Ray's Place.
 * 1782 1782 Sussex County, Virginia tax lists (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1782 Personal property tax lists, 1782, Southside Virginian. Richmond VA: Apr 1988. Vol. 6 Iss. 2; Jul 1988. Vol. 6 Iss. 3; online at Internet Archive.
 * 1782-1800 Land tax books, 1782-1800. - images.
 * 1782-1818 Heinegg, Paul. "Sussex County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1818," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1782-1850 Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850. - images.
 * 1783  Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website.
 * 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 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & 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 . The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Sussex County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1798, 1802 Removals from militia fines, 1798-1802, Southside Virginian. Richmond VA: Jul 1983. Vol. 1 Iss. 4; online at Internet Archive.
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Sussex County is included in Vol. 2.

Vital Records

 * Vital Records, Sussex County, Virginia, USGenArchives

Birth

 * 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1717-1778 Boddie, John Bennett. Births, Deaths and Sponsors, 1717 - 1778 from the Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield, 1998..
 * 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1754-1780s Crozier, William Armstrong. Early Virginia Marriages. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1953. Includes Sussex County marriages 1754-1780s.
 * 1754-1810 Knorr, Catherine Lindsay. Marriages of Sussex County, Virginia, 1754-1810. Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1982. WorldCat link.
 * 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1717-1778 Boddie, John Bennett. Births, Deaths and Sponsors, 1717 - 1778 from the Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield, 1998. Available at . For further information, see Albemarle Parish.
 * 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;  index & images
 * 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Jones Funeral Home Obituaries (Jones Funeral Home, Stony Creek, Sussex County, Virginia)

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — index & images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Bennetts Creek Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Franklin Virginia FamilySearch Center


 * Heritage Public Library - Charles City - an affiliate library

Libraries
Blackwater Regional Library Website

Societies
Sussex County, Virginia Historical Society Website

Websites

 * Sussex County Markers (Historical Marker Database)
 * Sussex County, Virginia (RootsWeb)
 * Sussex County, Virginia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Sussex County, Virginia Genealogy and History (Virginia Genealogy Trails)
 * Sussex County, Virginia Genealogy Links (GenealogyLinks.net)
 * Sussex County, Virginia USGenWeb Archives (USGenWeb)
 * VAGenWeb's Sussex County Project (VAGenWeb)
 * Cyndi's List


 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Sussex County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1979):127-129. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).