New Kent County, Virginia Genealogy

Guide to New Kent County Virginia ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth, marriage, death, and census records, family histories, immigration records, and military records. This article is about a county in the state of Virginia. For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). 

Description
New Kent County is located in the eastern part the Commonwealth of Virginia and named for Kent, England.

County Courthouse
New Kent County Courthouse 12001 Courthouse Circle/PO Box 98 New Kent, VA 23124-0098 Phone: 804-966-9520 New Kent County Website Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, probate, Court, and land records from 1808

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:

Bible Records

 * Bible Records [1822-1860] of John H. Christian of New Kent County, Son of Gideon and Lucy Christian. Transcript, 1977. 1036555 Item 40
 * Chapman Bible Records [ca. 1809-1926], New Kent County. Transcript, microfilmed 1977. 1036555 Item 40
 * Smithie, Hannah More Moore and Martha Dandridge Woman's Club (New Kent County, Virginia). Bible Records Collected by the Martha Dandridge Woman's Club, New Kent County, Virginia. Typescript, microfilmed 1977. 1036555 Item 40
 * Taylor Bible Records [1802-1912], New Kent Co. Transcript, microfilmed 1977. 1036555 Item 40
 * 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Turner, Bell Woodward. John Ratcliffe's Bible [Records, ca. 1814-1841], New Kent County, Va. Transcript, microfilmed 1977. 1036555 Item 40

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Providence Forge was constructed in the 1760s. Providence Forge, in The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jul. 1896):20-22. Digital version at JSTOR - free.

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Tyler, Lyon G. "Old Tombstones in New Kent County," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct. 1896):77-81. Digital version at JSTOR - free.

Census Records
1782 Enumeration
 * New Kent County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 36.

1785 Enumeration
 * New Kent County Heads of Families - 1785 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 92.

1890 Union Veterans
 * Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner. .  Includes residents of this county.
 * 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census. Online at: Ancestry ($). Includes residents of this county.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Baptist Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
 * 1) Black Creek (1777)

New Kent County fell within the bounds of the Dover Association.

Church of England See also Blisland Parish See also St. John's Parish  See also St. Paul's Parish  See also St. Peter's Parish  See also St. Stephen's Parish  See also Stratton Major Parish

Presbyterian Providence Forge Church (originally met at St. Peter's, later called Olivet Church) was organized around 1750. Records have been microfilmed.

Quaker Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):
 * Black Creek Monthly Meeting (1691-1805)

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records

Chancery Court
 * Indexed images to New Kent County, Virginia Chancery Records 1848-1956 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

Emigration and Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of St. Peter's Parish, Stratton Major Parish, and New Kent County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African American
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * Heinegg, Paul. "New Kent County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of New Kent County.

Native American The Pamunkeys Tribe, Chickahominies Tribe, Mattaponeys Tribe, Rappahannocks Tribe, and Totas-Chees Tribe lived in the area in the late 1600s.

Funeral Homes

 * 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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

Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families
 * Barham, Nellie McLane and Marius Randolph Barham. Kith and Kin: Whence They Came and Wither They Went. 2 vols. n.p.: N.M. Barham and M.R. Barham, 1992-.
 * Evans, June Banks. Men of Matadequin, Three Hundred Years from New Kent County Sourcebook for Related Lines, Banks, Blackwell, Burnett, Durvin, Gaulding, Goodman, Lipscomb, McGhee, Parsley, Slaughter, Weisiger, Wood, Zall. New Orleans, La.: Bryn Ffyliaid Publications, 1984. 975.54 D2e
 * The New Kent County VA GenWeb website includes a Surname Register, Ancestor Queries, and Biographies.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1704 Quit Rents at Virginia Pioneers ($).
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Grants and Patents
 * Hudgins. 54 patents dated 1647-1694 in New Kent County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2012. 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.
 * 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). Available at ; online at Hathitrust, Ancestry ($).

Local Histories

 * Harris, Malcolm Hart. Old New Kent County, Some Account of the Planters, Plantations, and Places in ... 2 vols. West Point, Va.: M.H. Harris, 1977. 975.5 H2har v. 1

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1978):121-130. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. New Kent County's 1789 Delinquent List appears on 22:121.

Military Records
French and Indian War Revolutionary War
 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at . Identifies some New Kent 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 Internet Archive. 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 New Kent County, see p. 96.
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at ; digital book at Ancestry ($). Identifies some New Kent County militia officers; see place name index.
 * A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Eastern District, New Kent County on page 132.

Regiments. Service men in New Kent County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. New Kent County supplied soldiers for the:
 * - 6th Virginia Regiment

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 Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Virginia, New Kent County, p. 92. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Regiments. New Kent County men served in the 52nd Regiment. Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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)

Regiments. Civil War service men in New Kent County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
 * - 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company F (New Kent Cavalry or Light Dragoons).

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in New Kent County. World War II
 * May 7, 1862 - Eltham’s Landing, also known as Barhamsville or West Point.
 * Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

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.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Court Hopkins, William Lindsay. Some Wills from the Burned Counties of Virginia and Other Wills Not Listed in Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800. Richmond, Virginia: W.L. Hopkins, 1987. Available at. Includes New Kent County.

London Courts Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Includes wills of residents of St. Peter's Parish, Stratton Major Parish, and New Kent County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.

County Court
 * Digital Images of New Kent County Wills 1864-1887. See Names of Testators. Virginia Pioneers
 * Digital Images of New Kent County Wills 1880-1938. See Names of Testators. Virginia Pioneers
 * 1639-1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry — index, incomplete ($)
 * 1864-1887 Images of Wills, Inventories, Appraisements at Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1880-1891 Images of Wills, Inventories, Appraisements at Virginia Pioneers ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1704 "Virginia Quit Rent Rolls, 1704," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 28 (1920):207-218, 328-339; Vol. 29 (1921):18-28, 337-343, 402-412; Vol. 30 (1922):21-30, 280-285, 341-347; Vol. 31 (1923):70-75, 153-163, 215-231, 314-318; Vol. 32 (1924):69-75, 144-158, 281-287, 338-343; Vol. 33 (1925):47-50, 359-370; Vol. 34 (1926):113-119, 252-258, 313, 321. Available at ; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at ; digital version of VMHB at JSTOR ($). New Kent County appears in 31:215-235.
 * 1782 New Kent Co. Land Tax - 1782 at VAGenWeb
 * 1782 Smith, Paulette. New Kent County, Virginia Land Tax Records, 1782 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * 1782 Land Tax Records, 1782, Tidewater Virginia Families, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Aug. 1993); Vol. 2, No. 3 (Nov. 1993). Available at.
 * 1782-1820 Heinegg, Paul. "New Kent County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1820," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1782-1863  Personal property tax lists, 1782-1863. - images.
 * 1782-1863 Land tax lists of New Kent County, 1782-1863.  - images.
 * 1783  Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * 1788 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 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & 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 1788 personal property tax list. New Kent County is included in Vol. 2.
 * 1789 Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1978):121-130. Available at ; searchable database at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. New Kent County's 1789 Delinquent List appears on 22:121.
 * 1800 Tax List, 1800, The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan. 2000); Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr. 2000). Searchable database at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
 * 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. New Kent County is included in Vol. 1.

Birth

 * 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index($) — index $
 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
 * 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;  index & images
 * 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — index & images

FamilySearch Centers

 * Gloucester Virginia FamilySearch Center
 * Richmond Virginia Midlothian FamilySearch Center
 * Williamsburg Virginia FamilySearch Center


 * Heritage Public Library - New Kent - an affiliate library
 * Williamsburg Regional Libraries - James City County Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Tidewater Genealogical Society

Websites

 * New Kent County, Virginia USGENWEB
 * Cyndi's List
 * Virginia Pioneers ($)


 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

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 New Kent County, see p. 62