Portsmouth (Independent City), Virginia Genealogy

Description
The City of Portsmouth is located in the Eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Portsmouth was founded by Colonel William Crawford, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and named for Portsmouth, England.

Courthouse
For additional records, see Norfolk County.

Parent County
1858--Portsmouth was created in 1858 from Norfolk County.

African American
Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of the City of Portsmouth.

Chancery Court

 * Indexes and images to Portsmouth, Virginia Chancery Records 1859-1932 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, which were often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will of a resident of Portsmouth proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Maps
Map of Portsmouth City, Virginia

Revolutionary War

 * 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, Portsmouth County [sic] on page 133.]

Civil War
Civil War records for Portsmouth were kept by the city.

Newspapers

 * The Portsmouth Star newspaper contained a column for African American residents, which began in 1924. Colored Notes was originally authored by Jeffrey T. Wilson; the inaugural year has been indexed and can be accessed through the Portsmouth Public Library.


 * 1787-1789 - Norfolk and Portsmouth Journal at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1789 - Norfolk and Portsmouth Gazette at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1811-1859 - Norfolk &amp; Portsmouth Herald at Google News - free.


 * 1820-1833 - The Norfolk and Portsmouth Herald at Google News - free.

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 Portsmouth silversmiths.]

Probate

 * 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)

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

Vital Records

 * 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)

Birth

 * 1857-1896 Births, 1857-1896 (African-American)
 * 1858-1896 - Portsmouth Birth Index 1858-1896. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

 * 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry ($) — index
 * 1858-1901 Marriages, 1858-1901
 * 1858-1901 Portsmouth Marriage Index 1858-1901. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1902-1906 Marriages, 1902-1906
 * 1921-1925 Marriages, 1921-1925
 * 1928,1931 Marriages, 1928 &amp; 1931
 * 1935-1937 Marriages, 1935-1937

Death

 * 1858-1896 - Portsmouth Death Index 1858-1896. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * Burials, Lincoln (African-American)
 * Burials, St. Paul's / Catholic

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Portsmouth Virginia Family History Center
 * Elizabeth River Virginia Family History Center