Fairfax County, Virginia Genealogy

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

Virginia Online Genealogy Records

Description
Fairfax County Virginia is located in northern Virginia, Fairfax County was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William County. It was named for Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781), proprietor of the Northern Neck.

The oldest settlements in Fairfax County were located along the Potomac River. George Washington settled in Fairfax County and built his home, Mount Vernon, facing the river. Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason is located nearby. Modern Fort Belvoir is partly located on the estate of Belvoir Manor, built along the Potomac by William Fairfax in 1741. Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the only member of the British nobility ever to reside in the colonies, lived at Belvoir before he moved to the Shenandoah Valley. The Belvoir mansion and several of its outbuildings were destroyed by fire immediately after the Revolutionary War in 1783, and George Washington noted the plantation complex gradually deteriorated into ruins.

In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax County became Loudoun County. In 1789, part of Fairfax County was ceded to the federal government to form Alexandria County of the District of Columbia. Alexandria County was returned to Virginia in 1846, reduced in size by the secession of the independent city of Alexandria in 1870, and renamed Arlington County in 1920. The Fairfax County town of Falls Church became an independent city in 1948. The Fairfax County town of Fairfax became an independent city in 1961.

Fairfax County Virginia Courthouse
Fairfax County Courthouse 4110 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone: 703-246-4168

Clerk Circuit Court has birth records 1853-1912 marriage recrods from 1853, divorce records from 1850, probate Court and land records from 1742

Fairfax County Virginia History


The county is named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693-1781), Proprietor of the Northern Neck.

Parent County
1742--Fairfax County was created 6 May 1742 from Prince William County. County seat: City of Fairfax

In 1649, King Charles II of England granted the land between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, known as the Northern Neck, to a group of his most loyal supporters. By 1681, one of those men, Thomas, Lord Culpeper, and Governor of the Virginia Colony, had acquired the interests of the others. Upon his death in 1689, his daughter Catherine inherited his approximately 5 million acres land holding. Catherine married Thomas, fifth Lord Fairfax, and upon their deaths in 1719, the Northern Neck lands passed to their son, Thomas, sixth Lord Fairfax, and Baron of Cameron.

Boundary Changes:
Fairfax County was formed in 1742 from the northern part of Prince William County. Prince William County was created in 1731 from a portion of Stafford County (and a part of King George County), Stafford County was created in 1664 from Westmoreland County, which was created in July 1653 from the northern portion of Northumberland County, itself formed in 1648.

In 1757, the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax County became Loudoun County. The current border between Fairfax and Loudoun was re-established in 1957. In 1789, the area that now encompasses Alexandria City and Arlington County was donated to the Federal Government during the creation of the District of Columbia in 1791 and designated Alexandria County of the District of Columbia until 1846, when it was returned to Virginia as the independent county of Alexandria. In 1870, the city of Alexandria seceded as an independent Virginia city and in 1920, Alexandria County was renamed Arlington County.

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.

Record Loss
Fairfax County: created in 1742, original wills, marriage registers, and deeds as well as many other loose papers were destroyed during the Civil War; deed books for twenty-six of the fifty-six years between 1763 and 1819 are missing.


 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1890

The records of some parents counties have also been lost:


 * Prince William County: created in 1731, many county court records have been lost, destroyed, or stolen at various times. Scattered years of deeds, wills, and orders, as well as various bond books and a plat book, survive.
 * Stafford County: created in 1664, many pre-Civil War county court records were lost to vandalism during the war. Scattered years of deeds, wills, and orders have survived as has an old General Index.
 * Northumberland County: created in 1645, suffered some loss in a fire in the clerk's office on 25 October 1710.
 * Westmoreland County: created in 1653, lost an order book for the period 1764-1776 to theft, and many loose papers were damaged during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

See also: Burned Jurisdiction Database, courtesy: Library of Virginia.

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:

Getting Started
Compiled genealogies are a good place to start research for this area, see Fairfax County, Virginia Genealogy.

If you are researching families who lived in Fairfax County, Virginia between the 1740s and 1790s, the Sparacios' books are a great time saver. They comprehensively index several publications covering that period:


 * Sparacio, Ruth Trickey and Sam Sparacio. Surname Index of Antient Press Publications. 14+ vols. McLean, Va.: R. &amp; S. Sparacio, Antient Press, 1993-. 975.5 P22s v. 1-2; publisher's website: Antient Press.

Research Guides

 * Grundset, Eric G. "Fairfax County Genealogy," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 3 (May-Jun. 1984):1-2. ; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website ($).

African American
In 1870, the town of Alexandria had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia.

Guide to African-American Resources, Alexandria Library Local History/Special Collections is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.


 * Lane, Estelle. "News of Interest to Colored Readers," Alexandria Gazette. 1927-1928 is available online, courtesy: http://www.freedmenscemetery.org/resources/resources.shtml Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections].
 * Sweig, Donald. Registrations of Free Negroes Commencing September Court 1822, Book No. 2 &amp; Register of Free Blacks 1835, Book 3: Being the Full Text of the Two Extant Volumes, 1822-1861, of Registrations of Free Blacks Now in the County Courthouse, Fairfax, Virginia. Fairfax, Virginia : Prepared for publication and published by History Section, Office of Comprehensive Planning, Fairfax County, Virginia under the direction of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in cooperation with the Fairfax County History Commission, 1977. ; reviewed by Elizabeth Shown Mills in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 86, No. 1 (Jan., 1978), pp. 114-115. Review: ; digital version of review at JSTOR ($).
 * Volunteers for Freedom: Black Civil War Soldiers in Alexandria National Cemetery is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Voter Registration in Alexandria, Virginia: African Americans, 1902-1954 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized images of African Americans of Fairfax County.
 * George Washington's Mount Vernon Slavery Database
 * George Washington's Mount Vernon Slavery Database

Bible Records

 * [Huntt] "Huntt Family Bible: Fairfax County, Virginia," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 12 (Jun. 1985):3-5..

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Civil War Era Burials - Alexandria National Cemetery is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Volunteers for Freedom: Black Civil War Soldiers in Alexandria National Cemetery is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

Individual Cemeteries:

BillionGraves:


 * Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Dranesville
 * Brown's Memorial Cemetery, Dranesville
 * Gooding Family Cemetery, Annandale
 * Jerusalem Baptist Church Cemetery, Fairfax
 * Lee Chapel Cemetery, Burke
 * Lewinsville Presbyterian Cemetery, Dranesville
 * Mount Pleasant Baptist Cemetery, Herndon
 * Mount Zoar Cemetery, Fairfax
 * Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McLean
 * Pohick Churchyard Cemetery, Lorton
 * Saint Mary Cemetery, Fairfax Station
 * Sydenstricker Methodist Church Cemetery, Newington

Census
1782 Enumeration


 * Fairfax County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 16.

1785 Enumeration


 * Fairfax County Heads of Families - 1785 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 85.

1820 Manufacturers Census


 * "1820 Manufacturers Census," Northern Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul. 1997):125-126. Available at . [Includes Fairfax, Fauquier, and Loudoun counties.]

1850


 * Tallichet, Marjorie D. Alexandria City and County 1850 Census. Heritage Books, Inc., 1986. Index is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

1890 Union Veterans


 * 1890 Veterans Census Northern Virginia is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * "Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.

General

 * Hiatt, Marty and Craig Roberts Scott. Loudoun County, Virginia, Tithables, 1758-1786. 3 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1995. . [Volume 1 includes a 1749 tithables list for Fairfax County which identifies tithe payers and many of their religions.]

Scheel's map of Fairfax County, Virginia identifies the locations of early churches and meetinghouses circa 1776. The Family History Library has a copy:.

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * 1) Alexandria (1803). Minutes begin in 1803: . Includes lists of members and baptisms.
 * 2) Back Lick (1782).
 * 3) Bull Run (1775).
 * 4) Difficult (1775).
 * 5) Frying Pan (1791).
 * 6) Hedgeman's River (1791), Jeffersonton, Va. A history was published in Virginia Baptist Register, Issue 13 (1974).
 * 7) Popeshead (1775).

Fairfax County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.

Church of England
See also Cameron Parish See also Fairfax Parish  See also Truro Parish

Quaker

 * Alexandria Monthly Meeting (1783-1885). Hinshaw published the early records: . Wright also published the early records (1800-1870):.


 * (81+ entries)


 * Woodlawn Monthly Meeting (begun 1846)

Court
General


 * Horrell, Joseph. "George Mason and the Fairfax Court," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 91, No. 4 (Oct. 1983):418-439. Digital version at JSTOR ($).

County Court

Searches of Fairfax County Court Orders should begin with the Fairfax County History Commission and Edith Moore Sprouse's:



They also created.


 * Mitchell, Beth. Fairfax County Road Orders 1748-1800. 2003. Digital version at Smitherman.net - free. Includes name index.

Chancery Court


 * Indexes (1803-1963) and images (1803-1913) to Fairfax County, Virginia Chancery Records are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

Dumfries District Court and Superior Court of Law


 * Dumfries District Court Order Books, 1793-1817. Original records, Prince William County Courthouse, Manassas, Va.; available on microfilm at . [Dumfries District Court encompassed Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.]

Fredericksburg 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 . [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.]

Fairfax County Circuit Court 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Room 315 Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: (703) 246-4168 Web Site: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/circuit/archives.htm E-mail: [mailto:arch@fairfaxcounty.gov arch@fairfaxcounty.gov] Types of Records: Marriage info (1742 to mid 1800s); marriage records (1860s to 1957); birth and death info (1700s, 1800s); birth and death records (1912-1917); deed books (1742-1944); will books (1742-1948); tax records (1853-1920); court minute books (1749-1903); other early court files, pension records, war records, etc.

Genealogy
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
 * See Fairfax County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of 225+ published books and articles or jump to the surname using the alphabet bar.

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

Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families
 * The family of George Mason is treated in detail at the website Gunston Hall: Home of George Mason.
 * Liddle, Chester A. and Patricia H. Osisek. Families of Pohick Church, Truro Parish, Fairfax County, Virginia. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1991. has original edition and two supplements.

Historic Residences

 * Moxham, Robert Morgan. Belmont Plantation on the Occoquan, Fairfax County, Virginia. North Springfield, Virginia: Colonial Press, 1975. Available at.

Immigration
Alexandria, along the Potomac River, and Belvoir Plantation, have been ports since colonial times. Unfortunately, no official passenger lists survive for the eighteenth century.


 * Cantwell, John A. "Imported Indentured White Servitude in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, 1750-1800," unpub. M.A. Thesis, George Mason University, 1986. [Cantwell identifies many of the servants he found by name. The individuals Cantwell identifies by name have been indexed in the Immigrant Servants Database (see below).]
 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will of a resident of Fairfax County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]
 * The Port of Alexandria, MSS. Contains correspondence between the Secretary of the Treasury and the Collectors Office in Alexandria. A few are addressed to the Custom House in Alexandria. Letters cover 1789-1815..

Land and Property
An early settlers map is available for Fairfax County. The cartographers plot the locations of pioneers from the 1760 era. The Family History Library has a copy:.

Grants and Patents


 * Davey. 253 patents dated 1651-1911 in what is now Fairfax, Fauquier, Northumberland, Prince William, Stafford, and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. [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, which is "Nova" in this instance); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]
 * Beginning at a White Oak. 1977. Annotated land patents. Online at Internet Archive.
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. Available at ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Fairfax County.]

Land Causes


 * Sparacio, Ruth Trickey, Sam Sparacio, and Dumfries, Va. District Court. Abstracts of Land Causes, Prince William County, Virginia. [1789-1793] 2 vols. McLean, Va.: Antient Press, 1992. Available at . [Includes Fairfax County.]
 * Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County Land Causes," [1789-1793] The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Aug. 1984):5-7; Vol. 3, No. 7 (Jan. 1985):3-6; Vol. 3, No. 10 (Apr. 1985):6-7; Vol. 3, No. 12 (Jun. 1985):6-7; Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jul. 1985):4-6; Vol. 4, No. 2 (Aug. 1985):3-4; Vol. 4, No. 3 (Sep. 1985):5-7; Vol. 4, No. 7 (Jan. 1986):4-6; Vol. 4, No. 9 (Mar. 1986):3-4; Vol. 4, No. 10 (Apr. 1986):5-7; Vol. 4, No. 12 (Jun. 1986):5-7; Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jul. 1986):5-7; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Sep. 1986):6-9; Vol. 5, No. 6 (Dec. 1986):5-6; Vol. 5, No. 10 (Apr. 1987):5-7. Available at.

Local Histories

 * Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Industrial and Historical Sketch of Fairfax County, Virginia. Newell Printing Co., 1907. Digital version at Google Books (full-view).

Maps

 * Mitchell, Beth and Donald M. Sweig. An Interpretive Historical Map of Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1760: Showing Landowners, Tenants, Slave Owners, Churches, Roads, Ordinaries, Ferries, Mills, Tobacco Inspection Warehouses and the Towns of Alexander and Colchester. Virginia: Office of Comprehensive Planning, County of Fairfax, 1987. Available at.

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1977):167-171. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Fairfax County's 1787-1790 Delinquent Lists appear on pp. 170-171.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at . [Identifies some Fairfax Parish and Fairfax 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 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 Fairfax County, see p. 76-79.]
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at ; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some Fairfax County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.]
 * Mayo, Sandra. "Fairfax and Prince William Counties in the French and Indian War," Northern Virginia Heritage, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1987). Digital version at Historic Prince William.

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


 * - 3rd Virginia Regiment
 * - 10th Virginia Regiment

Additional resources:


 * Pierce, Alycon Trubey. "Wringing Northern Virginians Out of Final Pension Payment Vouchers, 1818-1864," Northern Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr. 1997):73-77. Available at . [Identifies married daughters and granddaughters of Revolutionary War Pensioners, and other persons mentioned in these records. Pierce abstracted entries for residents of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.]
 * 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, Fairfax County on page 130.]
 * 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 from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]
 * Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. By J.T. McAllister. 1913. Hot Springs, Va.: McAllister Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive

War of 1812
Fairfax County men served in the 60th Regiment.

Library of Virginia resources, 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 Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Fairfax County, pp. 78-79. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

 * - 5th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate).
 * - 6th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company F (Fairfax Company aka Washington's Home Guard aka The Powell Troop aka General Johnston's Bodyguard Company).
 * - 8th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G (Scott's Company).
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Company I (Fairfax Cavalry or Chesterfield Troop).
 * - 17th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Fairfax Riflemen).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865 -
 * 1861-1865 -
 * 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)
 * 1890 Veterans Census Northern Virginia is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Civil War Era Burials - Alexandria National Cemetery is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Gailey, Charles K. et al. They Died in Centreville: A Study of Union Soldiers Who Died and/or Were Buried in Centreville, Virginia During the Civil War is available online, courtesy the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library. NOTE: This is a 38 MB PDF file; allow time to download.
 * Harrison, Noel G. "Atop an Anvil: The Civilians' War in Fairfax and Alexandria Counties, April 1861-April 1862," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 106, No. 2 (Spring, 1998), pp. 133-164. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Johnson, William Page. Brothers and Cousins: Confederate Soldiers and Sailors of Fairfax County, Virginia. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1995. Available at.
 * Notes on Locating a Confederate Ancestor is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Oath of Allegiance in Virginia, 1862-1865 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * Volunteers for Freedom: Black Civil War Soldiers in Alexandria National Cemetery is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

Civil War Battles
The following Civil War battles were fought in Fairfax County.


 * July 18, 1861 = Blackburn’s Ford, also known as Bull Run
 * July 21, 1861 = Manassas I, also known as First Bull Run
 * December 20, 1861 = Dranesville
 * August 28-30, 1862 = Manassas II, also known as Second Bull Run, Manassas Plains, Groveton, Gainesville, or Brawner's Farm
 * September 1, 1862 = Chantilly, also known as Ox Hill


 * Maps of Civil War battles in Virginia: 1861 and 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

World War I

 * World War I Draft Registrations for Northern Virginia is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

Miscellaneous Records

 * 1607-2007 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization
Virginia


 * Index to Naturalization Petitions, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria, 1909-1929 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

Indexes
Fairfax County Historical Newspaper Index (1785-2000 nonconsecutive) index only - Free; includes:


 * Alexandria Gazette (1785-1788; July 25, 1854-December 31, 1855; and May 3, 1860-January 20, 1865)
 * Arlington County Record (1932-1933)
 * Fairfax City Times (1961-1968)
 * Fairfax County Independent (1929-1932)
 * Fairfax Herald (1886-1973)
 * Fairfax News (1872-1875)
 * Fairfax News - Herndon Observer (1925-1943)
 * The Local News (1861-1862)
 * The Rambler, Washington Star (1912-1928)
 * Reston Times (1965-1973; 1975-January 6, 1977; 1978; 1980-1983; 1985; and 2000)


 * 1784-1915 - Obituary Notices from the Alexandria Gazette, 1784-1915. Rev. ed. Willow Bend Books.

Online 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.


 * 1784-1789 - Virginia Journal (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1792-1800 - Columbian Mirror (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1797-1802 - Alexandria Times (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1800-1808 - Alexandria Advertiser (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1802 - Columbian Advertiser (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1802-1807 - Alexandria Expositor (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1808-1876 - Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1811-1825 - Alexandria Herald (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1876 - People's Advocate (Alexandria, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 1835-1922 - Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Va.) at Chronicling America - free.
 * 1916-1946 - Obituary Index to the Alexandria Gazette, 1916-1946 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * 1927-1928 - Lane, Estelle. "News of Interest to Colored Readers," Alexandria Gazette. 1927-1928 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.
 * 2002-present - Springfield Connection (Springfield, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
 * 2002-present - Reston Connection (Reston, 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 sections on Alexandria and Fairfax silversmiths.]

Petitions

 * 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 Google Books. [Includes a chapter titled "Petition from Fairfax County, Virginia, for Importation of Salt, November 23, 1775," see pp. 172-173.]

Probate Records
Local Court

King's abstracts are a good place to start:


 * King, Junie Estelle Stewart. Abstracts of Wills and Inventories, Fairfax County, Virginia 1742-1801. 1936; reprint, Baltimore, MD, USA: Clearfield, 1996. and  available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records($).

Some individual's wills have appeared in print or in manuscript collections:


 * Holbrook, E. Richardson. Copies of the Wills of General George Washington: The First President of the United States and of Martha Washington, His Wife, and Other Interesting Records of the County of Fairfax, Virginia Wherein They Lived and Died. Washington, D. C.: National Capital Press, 1904. Available at . [2 copies at FHL.]
 * Roberts, Mrs. Arthur John and Daughters of the American Revolution. Oklahoma Old Wills and Family Records. [Includes will of Charles Thrift, Sr., Fairfax Co., Va.] Available at.
 * Will of John Littleton of Fairfax Co., Va. 1745, Photocopy, available at.
 * Pierce, Alycon Trubey. "Fairfax County, Virginia, Administration Bonds, 1752-1782," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 74 (1986):189-195. Digital version at National Genealogical Society website ($);.

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 Fairfax County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Online Probate Records


 * 1639 – 1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry.com — index to transcribed records, incomplete, $
 * Images of Wills and Estates, Book A-1, 1742 – 1752; Book B-1, 1752 – 1767; Book C-1, 1767 – 1776 Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * Images of Wills - Book D 1776-82; Book E 1783-91; Book F 1791-94; Book G 1794-99; Book H 1799-1801; Book I, 1801-1806 Virginia Pioneers $

School

 * "The Senior Class:" Index to Yearbooks from Alexandria (VA) High Schools, 1919-1951 is available online, courtesy: Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections.

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1744] 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 Google Books. [Poll List for the Election of Burgesses for Fairfax County, 1744, see pp. 116-125.]
 * [1748/1749] Steadman, Melvin Lee. Falls Church by Fence and Fireside. Falls Church, Virginia: Falls Church Public Library, 1964. Available at . [1748/1749 tithables list for Fairfax County.]
 * [1749] Hiatt, Marty and Craig Roberts Scott. Loudoun County, Virginia, Tithables, 1758-1786. 3 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1995. Available at . [Volume 1 includes a 1749 tithables list for Fairfax County which identifies tithe payers and many of their religions.] Ancestry Collection: Index to the Tithables of Loudoun County, Virginia, and to Slaveholders and Slaves, 1758-1786, courtesy: Fairfax County Chapter NSDAR.
 * [1761, 1774] King, Junie Estelle Stewart. Abstracts of Wills and Inventories, Fairfax County, Virginia 1742-1801. 1936; reprint, Baltimore, MD, USA: Clearfield, 1996. and  available at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records($). [Includes 1761 and 1774 rent rolls.]
 * [1770, 1772, 1774] Sparacio, Ruth and Sam Sparacio. Fairfax County, Virginia Deed Books K-L (1772-1774). McLean, Va.: R. &amp; S. Sparacio, 1988. . [Includes 1770, 1772, and 1774 Fairfax rental lists.]
 * [1782-1805] Fairfax County Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1805 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
 * [1783] - Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * [1787] Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Available at . [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Fairfax County is included in Vol. 2.]
 * [1787-1800] Alexandria Personal Property Tax Lists 1787-1800 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
 * [1787-1790] Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1977):167-171. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Fairfax County's 1787-1790 Delinquent Lists appear on pp. 170-171.]
 * [1789, 1799] Indexed images of the 1789 and 1799 Personal Property Tax Lists of Fairfax County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . [This source is based on the 1815 land tax. Fairfax County is included in Vol. 4.]

Vital Records

 * Virginia Department of Health


 * Office of Vital Records P.O. Box 1000 Richmond, VA 23218-1000 Phone: (804) 662-6200 Web Site: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/vitalrec/index.asp Types of Records: Birth and death records (1853 to 1896; since June 14, 1912); marriage records (since 1853); divorce records (since 1918)

Birth

 * 1853-1869 - Fairfax County Birth Index 1853-1869. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1853-1866 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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) ($).
 * 1853-1935 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1853-1933 - Fairfax County Marriage Index 1853-1933. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1936-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Hiatt, Marty and Craig Roberts Scott. Implied Marriages of Fairfax County, Virginia. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1994. Available at.

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1853-1869 - Fairfax County Death Index 1853-1869. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1912-1987 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Libraries

 * Special Collections at the Barrett Branch of the Alexandria Library


 * 717 Queen Street Alexandria, VA 22314-2420 Phone: (703) 838-4577 Website: Alexandria Library


 * The Virginia Room


 * 10360 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030-2514 Phone: (703) 293-6383 Website: The Virginia Room E-mail: mailto:va_room@fairfaxcounty.gov Hours of Operation: Mon-Thu 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Fri 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sun 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM


 * The Library of Virginia


 * 800 East Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-8000 Phone: (804) 692-3500 Website: Library of Virginia

Societies

 * Gum Springs Historical Society


 * 8100 Fordson Road Alexandria, VA 22306 Phone: (703) 799-1198 Web Site: http://www.gshsfcva.org E-mail: [mailto:gshs1@verizon.net gshs1@verizon.net]


 * Mount Vernon Genealogical Society Resource Center


 * Hollin Hall Senior Center 1500 Shenandoah Road, Room 214 Alexandria, VA 22308 Web Site: http://www.mvgenealogy.org E-mail: [mailto:libraryasst@mvgenealogy.org libraryasst@mvgenealogy.org]


 * Fairfax Genealogical Society (FxGS)


 * P O Box 2290 Merrifield, Virginia 22116-2290
 * The Fairfax Genealogical Society (FxGS) was established in 1974 as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote fellowship and cooperation among persons who are conducting genealogical research and aid those doing research in our area. We currently have over 400 members, including not only many who live in or near Fairfax County, but also many who are searching for information in our area.

Family History Centers

 * Annandale Virginia Family History Center
 * Centreville Virginia Family History Center
 * McLean Virginia Family History Center (Falls Church)
 * Mount Vernon Virginia Family History Center (Alexandria)
 * Oakton Virginia Family History Center

Museums

 * Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism


 * 8301 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1399 Phone: (703) 765-1652 Web Site: http://www.collingwoodlibrary.com


 * Fairfax City Museum and Visitor's Center


 * 10209 Main Street Fairfax, VA Phone: (703) 385-8414 Web Site: http://www.fairfaxva.gov/MuseumVC/MVC.asp


 * Lloyd House, Alexandria, Virginia

Fairfax County Virginia Genealogy Websites

 * Fairfax County, Virginia USGENWEB
 * Fairfax County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
 * Cyndi's List
 * Cyndi's List