Mecklenburg County, Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Mecklenburg County Virginia ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, immigration records, and military records.

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Courthouse
Mecklenburg County Courthouse P.O. Box 530 Boydton, VA 23917-0530 Phone: 804-738-6191

Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, probate, land and court records

Parent County
1764--Mecklenburg County was created 26 May 1764 from Lunenburg County. County seat: Boydton

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Variant Spellings

 * Mecklenburgh

Record Loss
Loose papers before 1793 are missing. Bound volumes of deeds, orders, and wills still exist.


 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1890

African American
In 1860, Mecklenburg County had one of the largest slave population in the state (12,420 slaves). Ten years later in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (14,156).


 * Heinegg, Paul. "Mecklenburg County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1820," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * List of Colored Voters Registered at Pearsons Store Precinct in Palmers Springs Magisterial District, Mecklenburg Co., Va. Original records, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.; available on microfilm at . [No registration years is identified on the FamilySearch Catalog.]

Census
1782 Enumeration


 * Mecklenburg County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 32.

1790 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.

1800 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.

1810 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.

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.]

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * 1) Allen's Creek (1791)
 * 2) Blue Stone (1772)
 * 3) Buffaloe (1778)
 * 4) Maloane's or Geneto (1773)
 * 5) Wilson's (1799)

Mecklenburg County fell within the bounds of the Meherrin Association and the Roanoke Association.

Church of England
See also St. James Parish

Meade's 1861 history of parishes in Mecklenburg County is available online.

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Durham's Monthly Meeting (1790-?)
 * Ladd's Monthly Meeting (1790-1808) aka Taylor's Creek

Genealogy
More than 150 genealogies have been published about Mecklenburg County families. To view a list, visit Mecklenburg County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies.

Land and Property
Grants and Patents


 * Hudgins. 779 patents dated 1722-1819 in what is now Mecklenburg 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.]

Maps

 * 1870 Map of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Includes creeks, roads, churches, landowners, and landmarks.

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1976):199-208; Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1978):43-50. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Mecklenburg County's 1787-1788 Delinquent Lists appear on 20:204-207; 1788-1789 Delinquent Lists appear on 22:46-50.]
 * 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 Mecklenburg County to other parts of the country.]

Bell published records of Mecklenburg County residents who migrated to South Carolina:


 * Bell, Mary McCampbell. "Some Migrations from Virginia to South Carolina," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Summer 1982):136-143.

French and Indian War

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

Revolutionary War
Regiments. Service men in Mecklenburg County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Mecklenburg County supplied soldiers for the:


 * - 6th Virginia Regiment

Additional resources:

Mecklenburg residents' participation in the Revolutionary War.


 * Elliott, Katherine B. Revolutionary War Records, Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1983. Available at.
 * 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, Mecklenburg County on page 132.]
 * 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
Mecklenburg County men served in the 22nd and 98th Regiments.


 * 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 Mecklenburg 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, Mecklenburgh County [sic], p. 90. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A (Boydton Cavalry or Mecklenburg Dragoons).
 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Clarksville Blues) and Company F (Chambliss Grays).
 * - 21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Oliver Grays).
 * - 34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company B (Mecklenburg Heavy Artillery).
 * - 38th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Pittsylvania Regiment) (Confederate). Company G (Mecklenburg Rifles) and 1st Company I (Confederate Guards).
 * - 56th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies A (Mecklenburg Guards) and B (Mecklenburg Spartans).

Records and histories are available, including:
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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)

Miscellaneous Records

 * 1607-2007 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization

 * Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929

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.


 * 1893 - Midland Express (Boydton, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).

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 Mecklenburg County silversmiths.]

Probate Records

 * Bolten, Joseph S. Will of William Davis, Lunenburg County, Va. 1964. Available at . [Davis's will was proved in Mecklenburg County.]
 * 1765-1948 - Index to Wills Index Transcription Project 1765-1948 (VAGenWeb) - free.
 * 1765-1782 - Digital Images of Mecklenburg County Wills 1765-1782. See names of testators. Virginia Pioneers
 * 1765-1782;1782-1788;1788-1798 - Images of Wills & Estates Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1777-1778 - Index to Deed Bk 5 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1779-1786 - Index to Deed Bk 6 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1782-1798 - Digital Images of Mecklenburg County Wills 1782-1788; 1788-1798. See names of testators. Virginia Pioneers
 * 1786-1791 - Index to Deed Bk 7 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1792-1795 - Index to Deed Bk 8 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1795-1797 - Index to Deed Bk 9 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1798-1801 - Index to Deed Bk 10 Virginia Pioneers ($)

'Online Probate Links
 * 1639 – 1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry.com — index to transcribed records, incomplete, $

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1782-1820] Heinegg, Paul. "Mecklenburg County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1820," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * [1782-1783] Mecklenburg County 1782 &amp; 1783 Tax List. Purchase at Binns Genealogy.
 * [1784] Sheriff's Tax Land Sales, 1784, Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Oct. 1989). Available at.
 * [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. Online at FamilySearch - free; . [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Mecklenburg County is included in Vol. 1.]
 * [1787-1789] Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1976):199-208; Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1978):43-50. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Mecklenburg County's 1787-1788 Delinquent Lists appear on 20:204-207; 1788-1789 Delinquent Lists appear on 22:46-50.]
 * [1790, 1799] Indexed images of the 1790 and 1799 Personal Property Tax Lists of Mecklenburg County, Virginia are indexed online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1789, 1799] Indexed images of the 1789 and 1799 Land Tax Lists of Mecklenburg County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1800] Tax List, 1800, Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Jan. 1996); Vol. 40, No. 2 (Apr. 1996); Vol. 40, No. 3 (Jul. 1996); Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct. 1996); Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan. 1997); Vol. 41, No. 2 (Apr. 1997). Available at.
 * [1810] Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971. Available at . [The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Mecklenburg County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.]
 * [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. Mecklenburg County is included in Vol. 2.]

Birth

 * Fridley, Beth. Mecklenburg County Virginia Birth Records, 1866-85 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * 1912-1913 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage

 * 1660-1800 - Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 (Ancestry) ($).
 * 1660-1959 - Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1740-1850 - Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 (Ancestry) ($).
 * 1765-1810 - Nottingham, Stratton. Marriage License Bonds of Mecklenburg County, Virginia from 1765 to 1810. Onancock, VA, USA: Stratton Nottingham, 1928. Available at ; digital version at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).
 * 1854-1929 - Mecklenburg County Marriage Index 1854-1929. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1912-1987 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * Library of Virginia (Virginia State Archives)


 * Virginia Memory Collection, part of Library of Virginia's website. It contains digitized collections of chanceries, newspapers, photo collections etc.

Mecklenburg County, Virginia Genealogy Websites

 * Mecklenburg Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
 * Mecklenburg County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
 * Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * Virginia Pioneers ($)