Lancaster County, Virginia Genealogy

United States   Virginia    Lancaster County

Tidewater county in the Northern Neck region of Virginia.

County Courthouse
Lancaster County, Virginia P O Box 326 Jonesville, Virginia 22503 804-462-5611


 * County Health Department has birth records
 * Clerk Circuit County has marriage records from 1715
 * Death, probate, and land records from 1652
 * Divorce records from 1870 and court records from 1810

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

Record Loss

 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1890

Neighboring Counties

 * Essex
 * Middlesex
 * Northumberland
 * Richmond

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

If you are researching families who lived in Lancaster County, Virginia between the 1650s and 1710s, 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. (Some of the index volumes have not been printed and it is necessary to contact the publishers to search them.)

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.
 * Heinegg, Paul. Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. 2005-present. - free online book. Adams, Bee, Bell, Bluford, Bolling, Carter, Cassidy, Davis, Dennison (see introduction), Dias, Donathan, Dyer, Graves, Haws, Hunt, Jones, Kelly, Laws, Lewin, Lewis, McCullam, Mann, Maxfield, Mozingo, Nickens, Oliver, Palmer, Peters, Phillipson, Pinn, Poor (see introduction), Rich, Richardson, Scott, Shoecraft, Sorrell, Spriddle, Spriggs, Stewart, Weaver, Wiggins, and Wood families of pre-1820 Lancaster County, Virginia.
 * Hill, Margaret Lester. "A List of Male Free Negroes, 1850, Lancaster County," Tidewater Virginia Families: A Magazine of History and Genealogy, Vol. 5, No. 1 (May/June 1996):41. 975.51 D25t
 * 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," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 113, No. 1 (2005):46-79. Digital version at JSTOR ($).

Cemeteries

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

Census
1783 Enumeration


 * Lancaster County Heads of Families - 1783 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 55.

1785 Enumeration


 * Lancaster County Heads of Families - 1785 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 91.

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 American 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.]

Baptist

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

Church of England
See also Christ Church Parish (Lancaster) See also Christ Church Parish (Middlesex)  See also Piankatank Parish  See also Poropotank Parish  See also St. Mary's Whitechapel Parish  See also Trinity Parish  See also Upper Parish


 * 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 ($).



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. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes a guide to surviving records.]
 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, Record Book No. 2, 1654-1666 [pages 1-394]. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1961. ; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * 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: [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 200 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.


 * 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 American 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. ; 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. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Lancaster County.]
 * Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666. Vol. I (1934; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1991). ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [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. ; 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).

Colonial Militia

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

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


 * - 5th Virginia Regiment

Additional resources:


 * Gentry, Daphne. "Return of Recruits Raised in Lancaster County, 1781," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1979):173-174. Available at American 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.
 * 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.

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, Lancaster County, p. 87. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
 * Stratton, Nottingham, 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 copy right 1930) pages 74 FHL Book 975.522 M2

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-?.

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. ; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * Lancaster County, Virginia Estate Records 1835-1865 Database Project of the Mary Ball Washington Museum includes abstracts of estate records, wills, and related court documents.
 * Lee, Ida J. Abstracts Lancaster County, Virginia Wills 1653-1800. Richmond [Virginia]: Dietz Press, 1959. ; digital version at Family History Archives; and World Vital Records ($).
 * 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

 * Davis, Virginia Lee Hutcheson. "Records of Tidewater Virginia Counties," Tidewater Virginia Families: A Magazine of History and Genealogy, Vol. 1, No. 2 (May-June 1992):53-66. 975.51 D25t [For Lancaster County, see p. 61]
 * Dorman, John Frederick. "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Lancaster County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1971):273-275. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * Fleet, Beverley. Lancaster County, 1652-1655. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub., Co., 1961. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [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. ; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available as: ; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1659] Tithables, 1659, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 1, No. 1 (May 1992).
 * [1668] Tithables, 1668, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Aug. 1993); Vol. 2, No. 3 (Nov. 1993).
 * [1696] Wayne, A.A. "Tithables, Lancaster County, Va., Court of December 1696, Court Order Book 1696 to 1702, Page 7," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 24 (1942):122-125. ; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available as
 * [1701] "Tithable Persons in the Parishes of Christ Church and St. Mary's White Chapel, 1701," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 16 (1966).
 * [1716] "Tithables in Lancaster Co., 1716," The William and Mary Quarterly, 1st Series, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Oct. 1912):106-112. ; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available as ; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1716] Tax List, 1716, St. Marys White Chapel Parish, Virginia Tidewater Genealogy, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Sep. 1977).
 * [1745-1798] Lancaster County, Virginia Tithables, 1745-1798. Original records, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; microfilm:
 * [1782] Records, 1782, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 8, No. 2 (Aug. 1999).
 * [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. [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).
 * [1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Lancaster County is included in Vol. 3.]

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. Digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * Lee, Ida Johnson. Lancaster County, Virginia, Marriage Bonds, 1652 - 1850. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1972. ; and World Vital Records ($).
 * "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. Digitized by JSTOR ($).

Societies and Libraries

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

Websites

 * Lancaster County, Virginia USGENWEB
 * "Northern Neck," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Neck.
 * "Northern Neck," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Neck.