Bedford County, Virginia Genealogy

United States   Virginia    Bedford County





History


The county was named after the 4th Duke of Bedford, John Russell (1710-1771).

Parent County
1752--Bedford County was created 27 February 1752 from Albemarle and Lunenburg Counties. County seat: Bedford

Populated Places

 * The Peaks of Otter Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Bedford Villages: Lost and Found. Bedford, Va.: The Chapter, 1997.

African American
Bedford County's register of free negroes has been published twice:


 * Boyd-Rush, Dorothy A. "Bedford County Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 45, No. 2 (May 2007):110-122.
 * Heinegg, Paul. "Bedford County Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820," Free African Americans.com, available online.

Additional African American resources for Bedford County, Virginia include:


 * Heinegg, Paul. "Bedford County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1805, 1806-1816," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Cemeteries
For a detailed list, including addresses, phone numbers, and external links, see Bedford County, Virginia Cemeteries.

Census
For tips on finding ancestors in online census records, see Virginia Census.

1850


 * Neighbors, Marvin. 1850 Bedford County, VA Census. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

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.]

Church
Baptist


 * "Nathaniel Shrewsbury: Bedford County Pastor," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Feb. 2009):12-13. Taken from Harold B. Oyer's History Morgans Baptist Church 1771-1971.

Church of England


 * Four religious petitions (1774, 1778, 1779, 1782) concerning Church of England issues from residents of Bedford County, Virginia are available online in Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.

Presbyterian


 * One religious petition (1774) from Presbyterian residents of Bedford County, Virginia is available online in Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.
 * McGinnis, Andrew M. "Between Enthusiasm and Stoicism: David Rice and Moderate Revivalism in Virginia and Kentucky," Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 106, No. 2 (Spring 2008):165-190.

Quaker


 * Bell, James Pinkney Pleasant. Our Quaker Friends of Ye Olden Time: Being in Part a Transcript of the Minute Books of Cedar Creek Meeting, Hanover County, and the South River Meeting, Campbell County, Va. Lynchburg, Va.: J.P. Bell Company, 1905. Available at FHL US/CAN Book and FHL US/CAN Film 1313476 Item 2; digital version at Google Books (full-view).
 * Brown, Jane Douglas Summers and Jones Memorial Library. Jane Douglas Summers Brown (1903-) Quaker Records: Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Virginia); MS 1515. MSS, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va. Available on 26 microfilms at FHL 26 Rolls. [Includes records of Henrico County Quakers; Brown assisted "William Wade Hinshaw in the writing of the Virginia volume of the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy." N.B. Not all individuals referenced in this research belonged to the Quaker faith.]

Unidentified


 * One religious petition (1779) from Bedford County, Virginia residents who refused to give oaths, but declared they were not Quakers, is available online in Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.

Court

 * Indexed images of Bedford County, Virginia Chancery Records 1755-1912 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.
 * Little, Barbara Vines. "Individuals Listed in the 1754-1761 Bedford County Fee Book," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 47, No. 1 (Feb. 2009):74-84; Vol. 47, No. 2 (May 2009):102-106. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vs.
 * "Governor's Fees &amp; Etc., Bedford County Fee Book," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Aug. 2003):225-226. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vs.

Family Histories
It is anticipated that this bibliography will eventually identify all known family histories published about residents of this county. Use this list to:


 * Locate publications about direct ancestors
 * Find the most updated accounts of an ancestor's family
 * Identify publications, to quote Elizabeth Shown Mills, about an ancestor's "FAN Club" [Friends, Associates, and Neighbors]

The Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library in Bedford, Virginia has collected many histories of local families. The Easter Collection, for example, contains a wealth of knowledge about Bedford County, Virginia residents.

General


 * 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 information about residents of Bedford County, see discussion of cited sources.] FHL US/CAN CD-ROM no. 3887. Purchase at Virginians.com.

Bibliography


 * [Abshire] Pullen, William E. Virginians and Hoosiers: Abshires, Houstons and Wrights [of] Bedford and Franklin Counties, Virginia; and Union [and] Hamilton Counties, Indiana. n.p.: n.p., 1977. Available at FHL FMA HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 1665 and FHL US/CAN Film 982318 Item 5.
 * [Arthur] Arthur Family Genealogy of Bedford, Greenbrier &amp; Cabell Counties, Va., W. Va. and Jackson Co., Ohio. n.p.: n.p., n.d. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1697667 Item 44.
 * [Bewley] Bible Records of Christopher Bewley, 1756-1839: Bewleyville, Breckinridge Co., Kentucky, Bedford Co., VA to Hardin Co., KY 1817 to Breck. Co., KY, Revolutionary War Soldier from Virginia. MSS., available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 6863 and FHL US/CAN Film 1698079 Item 53.
 * [Board] McCarty, Leah. The Boards: From Bedford County, Virginia to Breckinridge and Meade Counties of Kentucky. L. McCarty, 1996.
 * [Board] Obert, Isabelle Board. The Board Family Chronicle: From Maryland to Bedford County, Virginia. Baltimore, Maryland: Margaret I.B. Obert, 1997. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B63o 1997.
 * [Bondurant] Bondurant, Birdie. Bible Records [1824-1959] of John Parnell &amp; Mollie E. (Jopling) Bondurant, Bedford Co., Va. &amp; Richmond &amp; Clarke Cos., Ga.: And Other Family Records, ca. 1730-1959. MSS., in possession of Miss Birdie Bondurant, Athens, Georgia, 1960. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 216686 Item 13.
 * [Bramlitt]See Woodson.
 * [Bright] Blankenship, Gayle King. Some Families of Bedford &amp; Washington Counties, Virginia and Orange County, North Carolina: Bright, Buford, Cash, Crawford, Crews, Davis, Downs, Early, Foster, Franklin, Gray, Huddleston, Lawhorn, McGeorge, McNew, Parker, Perrott, Pendergrass, Poindexter, Powell, Quarles, St. Clair, Scoggins, Shrewsbury, Smith, Tyler, Warren, Watts, Wiggenton. Poquoson, Virginia: G.K. Blankenship, 2000. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sa22b and FHL US/CAN Film 1440497 Item 2; digital book available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Brown] Eakley, Barbara Brown. The Browns of Bedford County, Virginia, 1748-1840: A Collection of Brown Surname Records Extracted from Primary and Secondary Sources. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1998. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 B812eb; purchase at Heritage Books.
 * [Buford] See Bright.
 * [Burroughs] Walker, Clarence Earl. Booker T. Washington Family Relationships 1843-1910: The Wrights and Burroughs, Ex-slaves of Bedford and Franklin Counties, Virginia. C.E. Walker, 1997.
 * [Carson] Carson Families of Bedford County, Virginia and Kentucky.
 * [Carter] Carter, Oliver Shelton. The Carter Family: Descendents of Berry Lafayette Carter, Bedford County, Virginia. Rockcastle Pub., 1987.
 * [Citty] Dorman, John Frederick. "Revolutionary Pension Application of Jacob Citty," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2 (May 2008):22-23.
 * [Corley] Corley, Dewitt Clinton. A Genealogy of Corleys: Beginning with Caniel Corley of Bedford County, Virginia, Tracing All Lineal Descendants of His Son, Jonathan Cheatham Corley. Decatur, Illinois: n.p., 1927. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1011841 Item 8; digital book available at Ancestry ($).
 * [Cowgill] Cowgill and Wright Family of Bedford Co., Virginia and Ohio.
 * [Crews]See Bright.
 * [Crumpacker] Whitesell, Lois Church. Crumpacker, Oglesby and Fowler Families: With Related Families, Primarily of Putnam and Sullivan Counties, Missouri and Bedford and Campbell Counties, Virginia. Edmond, Oklahoma: L.C. Whitesell, 1986. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 C888wL.
 * [Davis] Davis, Thomas Edward. The Davis Family of Bedford County, Virginia, from 1698 to 1898. n.p.: T.E. Davis, 1898.
 * [Dierdorff] The Descendants of Anthony Dierdorff (Deardorff) Sr., of Germany and Germantown, Philadelphia Co., Pa. Later Generations Removed to York County, Pa., Bedford, Virginia and Ohio.
 * [Doss] Murphy, Nathan W. Descendants of Azariah Doss and His Wife Lydia (Ayres) Doss: Information Regarding Over 1000 Descendantsof Azariah Doss (1754-1820) and His Wife Lydia (Ayres) Doss (1758-1831). Hanson, Kentucky: David W. Murphy &amp; Associates, 1998. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D741m and FHL US/CAN Film 1425145 Item 1; purchase at David W. Murphy Books.
 * [Douglas] Harris, Ruth Eleanor Poole. Ruth Eleanor Douglas Journal: With Genealogies of Douglas, Noell, Callaway, Clemens, Moorman and Other Related Bedford County, Virginia Families, also Genealogies of Douglas Families of Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri. Nashville, Tennessee: Douglas Family Publishers, 1979. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 D745h.
 * [Downing] Williams, Frank L. The Downing Family from Montgomery and Bedford Counties, Virginia, to Lincoln County, Missouri, by Way of Lincoln County, Kentucky. MSS., available at the Urbana Free Library, Illinois, and at FHL US/CAN Film 1024030 Item 17.
 * [Field] Lacy, Carole Field. James Field Papers, 1781-1874, Bedford County, Virginia. Carole Field Lacy Publications, 2008.
 * [Foster] See Bright.
 * [Fowler] See Crumpacker.
 * [Franklin] See Bright.
 * [Frost] Roberts, Snyder E. Descendants of Joseph Frost, Sr.: From Amherst, Bedford, &amp; Washington Counties, Va. to Anderson County, Tn. and Elsewhere. n.p.: S.E. Roberts, 1989. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 F929r.
 * [Gray] See Bright.
 * [Hackworth] Hackworth, William M. William Hackworth of Bedford County, Virginia: Revolutionary Soldier. W.M. Hackworth, 1995.
 * [Hancock] Childs, J. Rives. "The Hancock Family of Lower Norfolk, Henrico, and Bedford Counties," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct. 1924):413-416. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2v; digital version at JSTOR $).
 * [Hancock] "Tracing Our Roots through Military Pension Records: Revolutionary Pension Application of Edward Hancock," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Aug. 2008):42.
 * [Higginbotham] Shrader, B.R. Descendants of Roderick Higginbotham of Taylor's Mountain, Bedford County, Virginia. 2008.
 * [Houston] See Abshire.
 * [Hubbard] Hubbard, Louisa Dexter and Sarah D. Clapp Hubbard. Life in Virginia in 1868: The Diary of Louisa Dexter Hubbard, Wife of Henry Hubbard Jr., in the First Year of the Family's Residence in Bedford County, Virginia. 1974.
 * [Hubbard] Hubbard, William David. John Hubbard Descendants from Body Camp Creek, Bedford County, Virginia. Swift Print, 1991.
 * [Huddleston]See Bright.
 * [Hunter] Hunter, Walter Marvin. The Hunters of Bedford County, Virginia: Notes and Documents on the Family of James Hunter, Regulator Leader of North Carolina, Including Forebearers in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana and Texas. Cottonport, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1973. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 H916hw.
 * [Jackson] Williams, Lyle Keith et al. Joseph Jackson, 1705-1774 of Bedford and Goochland Counties, Virginia and Descendants. Fort Worth, Texas: L.K. Williams, 1991. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 J135w and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6110869.
 * [Johnson] Johnson, Marion C. Johnston/Johnson Deeds of Franklin County, Virginia, February 1st, 1786-September 12, 1831: And Deeds for the Earlier Patrick Johnson of Bedford County, Virginia, 1765/1776/1778. M. &amp; V. Johnson, 1998.
 * [Johnston]See Johnson.
 * [Lawhorn] See Bright.
 * [Leftwich] Hopkins, Walter Lee. Leftwich-Turner Families of Virginia and their Connections. Richmond, Virginia: J.W. Fergusson &amp; Sons, 1931. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1016920 Item 6; digital book available at Ancestry ($) and World Vital Records ($).
 * [Leftwich] Weaver, Oliver C. Captain John Leftwich of Bedford County, Virginia, and Oglethorpe County, Georgia (Died Feb. 26, 1797): And Allied Hammett and Reynolds Families of Wilkes, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties, Georgia with Connecting Links to Barge and Reynolds Families of Butler and Wilcox Counties, Alabama. Birmingham, Alabama: Oliver C. Weaver Jr., 1996. Book available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L523w 1996 and FHL US/CAN Film 1598479 Item 4; digital book available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [McGeorge] See Bright.
 * [McGhee] Biggerstaff, Virginia Rice. Rice and McGhee Families of Bedford County, Virginia: A Record of Tales Remembered and Trails Explored. V.R. Biggerstaff, 1982.
 * [Mattox] Lawson, Fred Raulston. The Lawsons of East Tennessee. Decatur, Ga.: Looking Glass Books, 1999. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 L444Lf.
 * [Meador] Newton, Jane Meador and Wathena Kennedy Miller. Descendants of Ambrose Meador, Bedford County, Virginia, to Breckinridge County, Kentucky, 1733-1988. McDowell, 1988.
 * [Meriwether] Glover, Ann Rucker. Meriwethers of Bedford County, Virginia: Ancestors and Descendants of "Sholto." A.R. Glover, 1994.
 * [Moore] Moore, Charles R. The Moore Family of Central Virginia: Covering the Counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange, Virginia. Charlottesville, Virginia: C.R. Moore, 1985. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 6921 and FHL US/CAN Book 1697537 Item 7.
 * [Moorman] See Douglas.
 * [Moseley] Stevenson, Estelle Moseley. George Cabell Moseley of Ingleside, Bedford County, Virginia and His Mother Elizabeth Winston Moseley: A Compilation of Family History and Genealogy. Typescript, copy in possession of Sara Gregory Slaydon, Deland, Florida, 1960. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1421971 Item 8.
 * [Moseley] Moseley, George Carrington. Genealogy of Moseley Family of Bedford County, VA. Digital book available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Myers] Snider, Donald A. The Myers Family of Botetourt, Montgomery and Bedford Counties, Virginia. D.A. Snider, 2003.
 * [Neal] Miller, Chester I. Neals of Bedford Co., Va, and Family of Walter Neal Sr., of Lawrence and Gallia Counties, Ohio. London, Ohio: C.I. Miller, 1992. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 N25m.
 * [New] Manahan, John E. "New Light on Old Charles City County," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 64, No. 4 (Oct., 1956):458-473. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * [Noell] See Douglas.
 * [Oglesby] See Crumpacker.
 * [Overstreet] Overstreet, Bob. Overstreets in Virginia, 300 Years of Bedford County: A Workbook Compilation of Outline Descendants Trees. Everett, Washington: B. Overstreet, 1999. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ov2b and FHL US/CAN Film 1425373 Item 16; digital book available at BYU Family History Archives.
 * [Overstreet] Overstreet, Bob. Overstreets from Virginia: Thomas Overstreet (1720-1792) &amp; Agnes: 6 Generations -- Bedford County, Virginia and Westward. Everett, Washington: B. Overstreet, 2001. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ov2ob and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6005687.
 * [Overstreet] Overstreet, Bob. Overstreets from Virginia: James Overstreet (1740-?) &amp; Frances Eubank (1740-1780); 7 Generations - Bedford County, Virginia and Westward. Everett, Washington: B. Overstreet, 2002. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ov2obj and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6006051.
 * [Pagan] Shover, Elizabeth Nadine Pagans. The Pagan Family of Franklin and Bedford Counties, Virginia and Allied Families 1745-1996. E.N.P. Shover, 1996.
 * [Page] Page, Richard Channing Moore. Genealogy of the Page Family in Virginia. Also a Condensed Account of the Nelson, Walker, Pendleton and Randolph Families, With References to the Bland, Burwell, Byrd, Carter, Cary, Duke, Gilmer, Harrison, Rives, Thornton, Wellford, Washington, and Other Distinguished Families in Virginia. New York: Press of the Publishers' Printing Co., 1893. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 P141pb and FHL US/CAN Film 459634 Item 2; digital version at Google Books (full-view).
 * [Parker] See Bright.
 * [Parker] Cox, Helen Goggin. "Who was Robert William Parker?" Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2 (May 2008):26-27.
 * [Payne] Wilson, Jerald A. A Compilation of the Joseph and Phoebe Payne Family of Bedford County, Virginia. J. Wilson, 1990.
 * [Payne] Wilson, Jerald. Addendum to Joseph and Phoebe Payne of Bedford County, Virginia.
 * [Pullen] Pullen, William E. Tide-water to Blue Ridge: Pullen-Walker Families of Bedford County, Virginia. Hollywood, Florida: W.E. Pullen, 1977. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 1036711 Item 7.
 * [Quarles] See Bright.
 * [Rice] See McGhee.
 * [St. Clair] See Bright.
 * [Saunders] Saunders: The Saunders Family of Bedford County, Virginia. n.p.: n.p., n.d. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 A1 no. 4910 and FHL US/CAN Film 1321033 Item 10.
 * [Sharp] Montgomery, Anne Deubery. Sharps of Augusta County, Virginia, Bedford County, Virginia and Three Soldiers of the Revolution Came to Kentucky. San Francisco, California: Ann Deubery Montgomery, 1971. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Sh23ma and FHL US/CAN Film 897330 Item 3.
 * [Shrewsbury] See Bright.
 * [Shrewsbury] "Nathaniel Shrewsbury: Bedford County Pastor," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Feb. 2009):12-13. Taken from Harold B. Oyer's History Morgans Baptist Church 1771-1971.
 * [Taylor] Weber, Anne Taylor. William Taylor of Bedford County, Virginia: Also Burton, Powell. Huntington, West Virginia: A.T. Weber, ?1990. Available at FHL FAM HIST 929.273 T212wat.
 * [Thurman] Crouch, Kenneth E. The Thurman Family: Ancestry of John S. and Bevie Saunders Thurman and Allied Families of Bedford County, Virginia. 1956.
 * [Turner] See Doss and Leftwich.
 * [Vaughn] Anderton, Donna L. Vaughn. "The Vaughn Family of the Peaks of Otter," Museum News: Bedford Museum &amp; Genealogical Library, No. 3 (Fall 2009):3-5.
 * [Vincent] Murphy, Nathan W. Early Families of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Vincent, Wright, McElwain, Wilkins and Jarvis; Historical Information and Sources for more than 2,000 Descendants of Charles Vincent, William Wright, George McElwain, John Wilkins, and John Jarvis, Whose Numerous Progenitors Make Up a Large Portionof the Present Population of Muhlenberg County. Hanson, Kentucky: David W. Murphy &amp; Associates, 1999. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 V743m; purchase at David W. Murphy Books.
 * [Wade] Arnott, Mary Edith Wade. Wade Family of Virginia - Bedford County: Records, Letters, Notes, Etc. MSS., available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W119am and FHL US/CAN Film 547002 Item 1.
 * [Walker] See Pullen.
 * [Watts] See Bright.
 * [Wiggenton] See Bright.
 * [Wilkerson] Jordan, Janie Moseley Garraghty. The Descendants of Joseph Wilkerson (12 May 1729-15 March 1829) and Allied Families of Bedford County, Virginia. Lynchburg, Virginia: Warwick House, 1995. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W652j.
 * [Wilkes] Wilkes, Harry. Letters, Day Books and Records of the Wilkes Family of Bedford County, Virginia, about 1790-1871. MSS., available at FHL US/CAN Fiche 6018438.
 * [Williams] Crapo, Myrna. Lewis Williams, 1793-1843, Rockbridge County, Virginia: The Never Ending Story. Pocatello, Idaho: M. Crapo, [2000?]. 929.273 W673cm; digital version at Family History Archives.
 * [Wood] Snider, Donald A. The Wood Family of Goose Creek, Bedford County, Virginia. D.A. Snider, 2000.
 * [Woodson] Descendants of Dr. John Woodson from England to Virginia in 1619: Jane Woodson Married Ambrose Bramlitt, of Bedford County, Va. in 1768.
 * [Wright] See also Abshire, Burroughs, Cowgill, and Vincent.
 * [Wright] Wright, Jay B. Joseph and Elizabeth Wright of Bedford County, Virginia, and Columbiana County, Ohio. DeWitt, New York, 1974. Available at FHL US/CAN Film 962970 Item 3; digital book available at Ancestry ($).
 * [Wright] Wright, Pauline Williams. The Wright Book: Worthy Heritage, Enduring Challenge; Being the History of Someof the Descendants of John Wright, 1745-1814, Bedford County, Virginia. Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1974. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W933w and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6111032.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Untangling Some of the Wrights of Bedford County, Virginia. n.p.: n.p., 1977. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W931a and FHL US/CAN Film 1036633 Item 2.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Marriage Records, Bedford County, Virginia: Revised as of February 3, 1998. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1998. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gm.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Birth Records in Bedford County, Virginia: Revised as of February 3, 1998. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1998. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gb.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Land Records (Surveys, Patent Deeds, Land Grants and Grant Deeds), Bedford County, Virginia: Revised as of September 9, 1998. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1999. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gg; purchase at Heritage Books.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Death, Cemetery and Probate Records, Bedford County, Virginia: Revised as of February 4, 1999. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1999. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gd.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Census Records, Bedford County, Virginia, 1810 to 1900: Revised as of August 31, 1999. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2000. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gc; purchase at Heritage Books.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Records, Personal Property Tax Lists, Bedford County, Virginia 1782 to 1850: Revised as of October 17, 1999. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2000. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93gp; purchase at Heritage Books.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Wright Family Records, Land Tax Lists, Bedford County, Virginia, 1782 to 1850: Revised as of December 2, 1999. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2000. Available at FHL 929.273 W93gL; purchase at Heritage Books.
 * [Wright] Grant, Robert N. Sorting Some of the Wrights of Southern Virginia: Part 1: 1763 Thomas Wright of Bedford County, His Wife Mary (_____) Wright, and their Descendants. 6 vols. Menlo Park, California: R.N. Grant, 2003. Available at FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 W93grs.

Immigration

 * [http://www.immigrantservants.com/search/advancedResults.php?surname=&givenName=&varientSurnameSpellings=&gender=&dateOfBirthDay=&dateOfBirthMonth=&dateOfBirthQuantifier=&dateOfBirthYear=&placeOfBirthParish=&placeOfBirthTown=&placeOfBirthCity=&placeOfBirthCounty=&placeOfBirthColony=&placeOfBirthNation=&occupations=&religions=&orphan=&familyPosition=&immigrationYearQualifier=&immigrationYear=&portOfDepartureTown=&portOfDepartureCity=&portOfDepartureCounty=&portOfDepartureNation=&placeOfArrivalTown=&placeOfArrivalCounty=&placeOfArrivalColony=&shipName=&convict=&yearOfIndentureQualifier=&yearOfIndenture=&lengthOfIndentureYears=&lengthOfIndentureMonths=&yearOfFreedomQualifier=&yearOfFreedom=&placeOfIndentureTown=&placeOfIndentureCity=&placeOfIndentureCounty=Bedford&placeOfIndentureColony=Virginia&agentSurname=&agentGivenName=&agentTitle=&masterSurname=&masterGivenName=&masterTitle=&residenceParish=&residenceTown=&residenceCity=&residenceCounty=&residenceColony=&residenceNation=&landowner=&literate=&spouseSurname=&spouseGivenName=&spouseMarriageDateDay=&spouseMarriageDateMonth=&spouseMarriageDateQualifier=&spouseMarriageDateYear=&spouseMarriageLocationParish=&spouseMarriageLocationCounty=&spouseMarriageLocationColony=&spouseMarriageLocationNation=&deathDateDay=&deathDateMonth=&deathDateQualifier=&deathDateYear=&deathLocality=&deathCounty=&deathColony=&deathState=&testate=&proofServantStatus=&proofConvictStatus=&headright=&preServitudeSources=&postServitudeSources=&comments=&family=&sourceCitations=&interestedResearchers= List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe] who served labor terms in Colonial Bedford County, Virginia (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.

Land
Deeds


 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book A-1: 1754-1762. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.
 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book B-2: 1761-1766. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.
 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book C-3: 1766-1771. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

Grants and Patents


 * Hudgins. 969 patents dated 1741-1882 in what is now Bedford County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2010. [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

 * Historical Sketch of Bedford County, Virginia, 1753-1907. 1907. Digital versions at Ancestry ($), Google Books (full-view), and Internet Archive.

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):113-118. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Bedford County's 1787 Delinquent List appears on pp. 114-115.]
 * 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 FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 W2e; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at FHL; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 W2e 1990-1992. [Includes individuals who migrated out of Bedford County to other parts of the country.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 M2bL. [Identifies some Bedford 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 FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 H2bw 1965; 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 Bedford County, see pp. 58-67, 107.]
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 M2c and FHL US/CAN Fiche 6048997; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some Bedford County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.]

Dunmore's War

 * Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper and Fincastle Payrolls and Public Service Claims, 1775: Also Known as Dunmore's War: Enlarged and Photocopied. Fort Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library, 2004. Available at FHL US/CAN Large Q Book 975.5 M2au.

Revolutionary War

 * Chilton, Ann. Revolutionary War Pensions of Bedford County, Virginia. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 1988. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. 975.5675 M2ca
 * Westerlund, John Stephen. "Bedford County, Virginia, 1774-1783: A Study of Participation in the War for Independence." Utah State University, Department of History and Geography, 1977.
 * 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, Bedford County on pages 128-129.]
 * 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

 * 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 Bedford County.]

Civil War

 * Chilton, Ann. Remnants of War 1861-1865: Civil War Records for Bedford County, Virginia. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

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.
 * Lacy, Carole Field. "Marriages and Deaths Found in Early Bedford Newspapers [Bedford Democrat]," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Feb. 2008):3; Vol. 22, No. 2 (May 2008):19; Vol. 23, No. 1 (Feb. 2009); Vol. 23, No. 2 (May 2009):19; Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 2009):35; Vol. 23, No. 4 (Nov. 2009):51.

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 FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 U23c. [Includes a section on Liberty (now Bedford) silversmiths and watchmakers.]
 * The Mills of Bedford County. Bedford, Va.: Bedford City/County Museum, 2006.

Petitions

 * "1785 Petition for an Inspection Station for Tobacco Hemp &amp; Flour at Lynches Ferry," Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Feb. 2008):10-11.
 * Eckenrode, H.J. Virginia State Library: A Calendar of Legislative Petitions Arranged by Counties Accomac - Bedford. Richmond, Va.: Davis Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing, 1908. Digital version at Google Books (full-view). [Bedford County petitions (1777-1858) are described on pp. 210-234.]
 * Seven religious petitions (1774, 1774, 1778, 1779, 1779, 1782, 1785) from residents of Bedford County, Virginia are available online in Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.
 * Watts, Dorothy C. "Petitions of Residents of Bedford and Henry Counties, Virginia, in Favor of and Opposed to a New County (Franklin)," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1980):83-89; Vol. 24, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1980):192-199. Available at New England Ancestors ($).

Private Papers

 * [Burton] Major, Nettie Leitch. "Burton Family Letters, Bedford County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun.1976):83-89. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg; digital version at New England Ancestors ($).

Probate

 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 1 and 2. Will Book 1: 1759-1787 and Will Book 2: 1787-1803. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.
 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 3: 1794 to 1810. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.
 * Clemens, William M. Virginia Wills Before 1799: A Complete Abstract Register of All Names Mentioned in Over Six Hundred Recorded Wills, ... Copied from the Court House Records of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Loudoun, Prince William and Rockbridge Counties. Pompton Lakes, N.J.: Biblio Co., 1924. Fiche 6015628-6015629; digital versions at Access Genealogy; Ancestry ($); and Heritage Quest Online ($). Free online surname index and 2004 reprint purchase details at Mountain Press website.
 * Dennis, Earle S. and Jane E. Smith. Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755 - 1800, Bedford County, Virginia: Index of Wills, 1754 - 1830. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1989. Reprinted with: Bedford County, Virginia: Index of Wills, from 1754 to 1830 / edited by Rowland D. Buford. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5675 V2d 1989; digital version at World Vital Records ($).
 * King, George Harrison Sanford. "Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed: Will of Major John Dinwiddie of King George County, Virginia," [and Dinwiddie Family Notes] The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):51-64. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg.
 * Rowland, D. Buford. Bedford County, Virginia Index of Wills from 1754 to 1830. New York: William M. Clemens, 1917. Digital book at Google Books (Full-view).
 * Whitten, Joida. Abstracts of Bedford County, Virginia, Wills, Inventories and Accounts, 1754-1787. Dallas, Texas, 1969. Reviewed in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1970):36. Review available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg; digital version at New England Ancestors ($).

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Bedford County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1960):171-175. Available at [[*King, George Harrison Sanford. "Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed: Will of Major John Dinwiddie of King George County, Virginia," [and Dinwiddie Family Notes] The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):51-64. Available at New England Ancestors ($).

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1757] Insolvents, 1757, The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct. 2002)..
 * [1762] Insolvents, 1762, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 1985). ; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * [1763] Tithes, 1763, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 1985). ; digital version at Ancestry ($).
 * [1764] "Bedford County Tithables, 1764," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 46, No. 2 (May 2008):89-90..
 * [1782] Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. . [1782 personal property tax list of Bedford County.]
 * [1782] Tax List, 1782, Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1981); Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1981).
 * [1782-1816] Heinegg, Paul. "Bedford County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1805, 1806-1816," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * [1784-1820] Land and Lots Returned as Delinquent, 1784-1820, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Nov. 2006)..
 * [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. Bedford County is included in Vol. 1.]
 * [1787] Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):113-118. ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($). [These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Bedford County's 1787 Delinquent List appears on pp. 114-115.]
 * [1789, 1800] Indexed images of the 1789 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Bedford County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * [1795] "Bedford County Insolvents, 1795," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 46, No. 3 (Aug. 2008):203-204..
 * [1797-1798] Insolvent Lists for 1797 and 1798, Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Aug. 1986).
 * [1800] "Bedford County, Virginia 1800 Tax List," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1963):65-70; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1963):118-124; Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1963):167-172. ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($).
 * [1800] Tax List, 1800, Bedford Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Nov. 1993); Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1994); Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1994); Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1994); Vol. 5, No. 4 (Nov. 1994).
 * [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. Bedford County is included in Vol. 2.]
 * [1817-1819] Insolvent Lists, 1817-19, Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 13, No. 2 (May 1989).
 * [Pre-1820] "A List of Lands and Lots Returned as Delinquent in Bedford County," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Nov. 2006):295-30. . [Non-payment of taxes before 1820.]
 * [1864] Tariff of Tolls to be Charged on Blue Ridge Turnpike and Ferry, 1864, Museum News [Bedford, Va.] (Spring 2004).
 * [1915] Thomas Jefferson Tax List, Poplar Forest, 1915, Southsider [Charlotte Court House, Va.], Vol. 12, No. 2 (1993).

Birth

 * Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia Birth Records: 1853-1856. Vol. I. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

Marriage

 * Miller, Jos. L. "Some Early Marriages in Bedford County, Va.," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Apr. 1903):280-282. Available at JSTOR ($). [Taken from Mrs. R.B. Claytor's abstracts published in the Louisville Courier Journal.]
 * Dennis, Earle S. and Jane E. Smith. Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755-1800 . Bedford, Virginia: E.S. Dennis and J.E. Smith, 1932. Digital book available at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).

Death

 * Neighbors, Marvin. Bedford County, Virginia Death Records 1853-1860 and 1868-1880. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website.

Societies and Libraries

 * Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library, Bedford, Virginia
 * Bedford Genealogical Society, Bedford, Virginia

Websites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog