Westmoreland County, Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Westmoreland 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
Westmoreland County is located on the Northern Neck Peninsula of the Eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. While not clear, it is possible the name was taken from Westmoreland, England similar to its sister county in Pennsylvania.

Westmoreland County, Virginia Courthouse
Westmoreland County, Virginia Polk Street P O Box 107 Montross, Virginia 22520 Phone: 804-493-0108

Clerk Circuit Court has birth and death records from 1855-1895 marriage records from 1786, divorce records from 1850, probate, court and land records from 1653

Westmoreland County, Virginia History
Many colonial settlers who gained prominence in America arrived in Westmoreland County, Virginia as immigrants during the mid 1600s. These wealthy Westmoreland planters had the money to purchase the labor of indentured servants imported from the British Isles. In the early eighteenth century, historians estimate that Westmoreland had more English transported convicts serving labor terms within its bounds, than any other Virginia county. Hence, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the area became the first home to many poor immigrants, before they moved to frontier areas to stake out cheap land.

Parent County
1653--Westmoreland County was created 5 July 1653 from Northumberland County. County seat: Montross

Boundary Changes
In 1662, Westmoreland County and Northumberland County were temporarily joined into a single 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.

Variant Spellings

 * Westmorland

Record Loss
Courthouse loose papers were burned during both the American Revolutionary War and during the American Civil War. Volumes that record deeds, court orders (except for an order book for the period 1764–1776), and wills exist.


 * Some wills from the 1600s are lost
 * Lost federal censuses: 1790, 1800, 1890

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 Westmoreland County, Virginia Genealogy.

If you are researching families who lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia between the 1700s and 1750s, the Sparacios' book indexes are a great time saver. The indexes are available for free online.

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 Westmoreland County, see p. 64]
 * Dorman, John Frederick. "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Westmoreland County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1979):120-123. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).

African American

 * 1865-1872 Virginia Freedmen's Bureau
 * 1935-2009, index and images, incomplete
 * Heinegg, Paul. "Westmoreland County, Virginia Court Orders 1705-1787," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * Heinegg, Paul. "Westmoreland County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1815," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * Hill, Margaret Lester. "List of All Male Free Negroes, 1850 Westmoreland County Personal Property Tax List," Tidewater Virginia Families: A Magazine of History and Genealogy, Vol. 5, No. 4 (February/March 1997):245-246. 975.51 D25t
 * "Slave Owners, Westmoreland County, Va., 1782," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Jan. 1902):229-235. Available at JSTOR ($).


 * Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Westmoreland County.

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Beale, G.W. "Early Tombs in Westmoreland, Richmond, and Northumberland Counties," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Oct. 1902):123-130. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * "Cemetery Records, Westmoreland County - Haywood Plantation - Washington Family," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 24 (1974).
 * "Early Tombs in Westmoreland, Richmond, and Northumberland Counties," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jan. 1903):191-195. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * "Inscriptions on Old Tombstones in Westmoreland and Northumberland Counties, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jul. 1900):25-31. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Mallory. "St. Pauls Episcopal Church Cemetery: Nomini Grove, Westmoreland Co., VA," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 54 (2004).
 * "Old Tombstones in Westmoreland County," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Oct. 1898):93-98. Available at JSTOR ($).

Census
1890 Union Veterans


 * "Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * Nomini (1786), Montross, Va. A bicentennial history is available:.


 * Dover Baptist Association, William Webber, Robert Baylor Semple, and James Greenwood. Minutes of the Dover Baptist Association,: holden at Nomony Meeting-House, Westmoreland County, Virginia. October 9th, 1802. J. Dixon and J. Courtney, Jun., 1803.


 * Dover Baptist Association, Robert Baylor Semple. Minutes of the Baptist Dover Association,: Held at Nomony Meeting House, Westmoreland County. Virginia, October 12th, 13th &amp; 14th, 1811. John O'Lynch., 1811.
 * Dozier, Richard. "Historical Notes Concerning the Planting of Baptist Principles in the Northern Neck of Virginia: Text Book from 1771: Sermons Preached from the Within Texts and Heard by me, Richard Dozier, son of Thomas in Westmoreland County, Virginia,"Virginia Baptist Register, Issue 28 (1989).
 * Healy, Elton C. "'History of Nomini Baptist Church' Given at Nomini Baptist Church August 9, 1953 in Connection with the 300th Anniversary of Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 19 (1969).
 * Henly, Robert Page. "The Family of Captain Joseph Peirce, One of the Founders of Nomini Baptist Church Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 8 (1958).

Church of England
Also known as Anglican, Protestant Episcopal.

See also Appomattox Parish See also Chickacoan Parish  See also Cople Parish  See also Machodick Parish  See also Nomini Parish  See also Potomac Parish  See also Washington Parish  See also Westbury Parish


 * Beale, George W. "The Early Churches of Northern Neck (Beulah Hinton Marsh)--Aquia Church in Stafford County, Christ Church Lancaster County, Farnham Church in Richmond County, Lamb's Creek Church in King George County, St. Mary's White Chapel in Lancaster County, St. Paul's Church in King George County, Yeocomico Church in Westmoreland County--Baptist Churches of White Marsh in Lancaster, Morattico Baptist, Nomini in Westmoreland, Farnham in Richmond, Hanover Baptist in King George 4. A Ride Through Westmoreland County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 2 (1952).
 * Davison, Bertha. "A History of Washington Parish," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 13 (1963).
 * Davison, Bertha Lawrence Newton. The Life of Cople Parish 1664-1964 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1999.
 * Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy of The Library of Congress, American Memory, has placed eight petitions from residents of Westmoreland County, Virginia dated 1778, 1778, 1785, 1785, 1785, 1786, 1786, and 1786 online. Principally, they concern matters of the Church of England. Petitions are valuable to genealogists because they contain lists of names of residents of the community.
 * Ljungstedt, Mrs. Milnor. "Westmoreland Parishes," The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Jul. 1926):258. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Mason, George Carrington. "The Colonial Churches of Westmoreland and King George Counties, Virginia, Part I," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 56, No. 2 (Apr. 1948):154-172. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Mason, George Carrington. "The Colonial Churches of Westmoreland and King George Counties, Virginia, Part II," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 56, No. 3 (Jul. 1948):280-293. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * Mayo, Wat Tyler, Walter Randolph Crabbe and S. Downing Cox. A Sketch of Yeocomico Church (Built 1706) in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Va: With a Reference to the Bicentennial Celebration on July 15, 1906, and the Movement to Raise an Endowment Fund for the Preservation of the Church. C.F. Sudwarth, 1906.
 * "Pope's Creek Episcopal Church, Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 10 (1960).
 * Pratt, Harden de V. "Yeocomico Church, Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 4 (1954); Vol. 5 (1955).
 * "The Pulpit Cloth of Appomattox Church," [Washington Parish, Westmoreland County] The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jul., 1918), pp. 28-33. Available at JSTOR ($). [Discusses theft of the pulpit cloth, dated 1715.]

Pope's Creek Episcopal Church was situated in Westmoreland County.

Presbyterian
There was a Presbyterian congregation in Westmoreland County from about 1719 to 1780.

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Duff's Monthly Meeting (1699-1743) earlier Peter Skinner's
 * Neill Chapel Monthly Meeting (1894-1901)
 * Upper Machodoc Monthly Meeting (1681-1689)

Court Records
General


 * Carver, Mrs. A.E. "Westmoreland County Court Houses," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 21 (1971).

Chancery Court


 * Indexed images of Westmoreland County, Virginia Chancery Records 1753-1902 (incomplete) are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

County Court


 * Heinegg, Paul. "Westmoreland County, Virginia Court Orders 1705-1787," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Loose Papers


 * Lewis, James F. "A Jury's Verdict, Westmoreland County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 25, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1981):88-91. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).

Superior Court of Chancery

The Superior Court of Chancery of Fredericksburg (1802-1831) had jurisdiction over certain Westmoreland 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., microfilm: [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.]

Funeral Homes

 * 1935-2009, index and images, incomplete

Genealogy
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
 * See Westmoreland County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of 500+ published books and artilcles, 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


 * Davis, Virginia Lee Hutcheson. Tidewater Virginia Families: A Magazine of History and Genealogy. Urbanna, Va.: V.L.H. Davis, 1992-2004. 975.51 D25t
 * Donnelly, Mary Louise. More Colonial Families of Maryland: Pioneers of Westmoreland County, Virginia and Kentucky. Ennis, Texas: M.L. Donnelly, 2003. 975.524 P28dm
 * Green, C. Sylvester. Greens from Westmoreland County, Virginia: With Sketches and Index of Interrelated Families, Especially Spilman, Hudson, Barham, Owen, Chaplin, Perkins, Short, Reese, and Howell. Greenville, N.C.: Green, 1975. Available at Virginia Historical Society.
 * Wright, Holly G. and F. Edward Wright. Colonial Families of the Northern Neck of Virginia. 3 vols. Lewes, De.: Colonial Roots, 2005-2007. 975.52 D2w v. 1-v. 3.
 * Contents: v. 1. Abbington, Allerton, Allison, Ashton, Berryman, Blundall, Blundell, Bonam, Bowcock, Brinnon, Carr, Cash, Cox, Crabb, Davis, Davies, Downing, Dunkan, Earle, Elliott, English, Field, Ford, Frank, Garland, Garner, Gray, Harness, Harrison, Hasselrigg, Hazelrigg, Hasleridge, Higgins, Hobson, Hornbuckle, Hudson, Vickers, Vickars, Vicars, Lancelot, Lane, McCarty, Markham, Marmaduke, Middleton, Minor, Moore, Mothershead, Moxley, Muse, Mewes, Newton, Omohundro, Amanundro, Peyton, Payton, Paten, Quisenberry, Cusenberry, Quisenbury, Rice, Roe, Rosier, Rozier, Rust, Shropshire, Sutton, Veale, Wellington, and Wigginton families -- v. 2. Arrington, Asbury, Atwell, Birket, Edwards, Eskridge, Field, Foster, Gower, Hardige, Hardwick, Haynie, Higdon, Hull, Jenkins, Kirk, Lovell, Pratt, Price, Sanford, Self, Settle, Suttle, Sorrell, Spence, Spencer, Strother, Sturman, Underwood, Wickliff, Wroe, Youell, Ewell families -- v. 3. Awbrey, Baldridge, Beard, Blagg, Butler, Fowke, Lord, Manly, Meador, Mottrom/Mottram, Pierce, Simmons, Speke, Vaulx, Watt/Watts aka Watkins, Weedon, Wright families.


 * The Family Group Sheets section of Westmoreland County, Virginia Genealogy Repository (USGenWeb) links to information on many local families.
 * Wills, Anita L. Pieces of the Quilt: The Mosaic of an African American Family. Charleston, S.C.: Booksurge, 2008. Available at Virginia Historical Society.

Historic Residences



 * Davison, Treadwell. "Wakefield Plantation (Westmoreland County)," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 15 (1965).
 * "Dedication of the Payne Family Memorial, to Ancestors Buried at Red House Westmoreland County, VA on May 11, 1935," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 22 (1972).
 * Dos Passos, Elizabeth H. "Pedkatone, Then and Now," [Peckatone Plantation, Westmoreland County] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 23 (1973).
 * "History of Westmoreland County &amp; Stratford Hall," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 53 (2003).
 * Latane, Lawrence Washington. "Blenheim," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 25 (1975).
 * McCartney, Martha. James Monroe's Birthplace, Westmoreland County, Virginia. Virginia Research Center for Archaeology, 197-?.
 * O'Dell, Jeffrey M. "1972 Excavation at the Chantilly Manor House Site, Westmoreland County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 23 (1973).
 * Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation. Stratford, Colonial Home and Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia: Birthplace of Robert E. Lee and of Two Signers of the Declaration of Independence. B.S. Adams, 1940.
 * "The Colonial Mansion and Grounds at Wakefield Near Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia," The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 14, Index to Vol. 14 (Jan. 1934). Available at JSTOR ($). [Photograph]
 * United States. National Park Service. George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Westmoreland County, Virginia: "Wakefield," Washington's Birthplace: The Memorial Mansion Marking the Site of the House in Which George Washington was Born. 1938.

Immigration
Leedstown, along the Rappahannock River, was an important port during the colonial period. No official passenger lists survive for the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries.


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. "Correspondence with the American Colonies 1739-1782," The Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1998):108-128; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Fall 1998):189-205. [Overseas correspondence of a resident of Westmoreland County with the following surname: Lee.]


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of Cople Parish, Leeds [Leedstown], Mattox, Nominy [Nomini Hall], Washington Parish, and Westmoreland 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).

Land and Property
Microfilm of Deeds in the Family History Library are scattered among several different categories, with the following film numbers:

Westmoreland County Deeds &amp; Wills General index to deeds, 1653-1898; mixed deeds and wills, 1723-1868 General index to deeds, Vols. 1-2 1653-1898 34327 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8 1723-1738 34328 Deeds and wills, Vol. S 1748-1753 34329 Deeds and wills, Vols. 36-37 1859-1868 34330

Miscellaneous land and probate records, 1654-1790 Deeds, wills, and patents 1654-1662 Inventories 1668-1677 34260 Deeds and wills, Vols. 5-6 1712-1720 34261 Deeds and wills, Vol. 7 1720-1723 Inventories and settlement of estates, Vol. 2 1746-1752 34262 Deeds and wills, Vol. 4 1756-1767 Deeds and wills 1776-1790 34263

Mixed deeds, wills, court orders, and poll lists, 1653-1859 Deeds and wills, Vol. 1 1653-1671 34267 Deeds and wills, Vol. 2 1738, 1691-1699 34268 Deeds and wills, Vols. 3-4 1701-1709 34269 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8-1 1738, 1723-1731 34270 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8-2 1732-1738 34271 Deeds and wills, Vols. 9-10 1738-1748 34272 Deeds and wills, Vols. 11-12 1747-1756 34273 Deeds and wills, Vols. 13-14 1756-1768 34274

In Chronological Order:

General index to deeds, Vols. 1-2 1653-1898 34327 Deeds and wills, Vol. 1 1653-1671 34267 Deeds and wills, Vol. 2 1738, 1691-1699 34268 Deeds and wills, Vols. 3-4 1701-1709 34269 Deeds and wills, Vols. 5-6 1712-1720 34261 Deeds and wills, Vol. 7 1720-1723 34262 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8 1723-1738 34328 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8-1 1738, 1723-1731 34270 Deeds and wills, Vol. 8-2 1732-1738 34271 Deeds and wills, Vols. 9-10 1738-1748 34272 Inventories and settlement of estates, Vol. 2 1746-1752 34262 Deeds and wills, Vols. 11-12 1747-1756 34273 Deeds and wills, Vols. 13-14 1756-1768 34274

Deeds

"Deed From 'Light Horse' Harry Lee to Willoughby Newton II, August 28, 1804. Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 19 (1969).


 * Fleet, Beverley. Virginia Colonial Abstracts: Westmoreland County, 1653-1657. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1961. Digital book available at Ancestry ($). [Includes deeds.]
 * King, George H.S. "Index. Westmoreland County Virginia. Deeds 1709-1804 and Wills 1755-1800. Unrecorded Wills and Deeds from a Folume at the Library of Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 22 (1972).
 * Digital Images of Deeds 1706-1804.  See names. Virginia Pioneers

Grants and Patents


 * Crozier, William Armstrong, ed.. Virginia County Records, New Series. Vol. I, Westmoreland County. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, USA: The Genealogical Association, 1913. Digital version available at Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($). Includes will abstracts, 1654-1794, and land grants, 1653-1793.
 * 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.]
 * Eaton, David Wolfe. Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, Virginia: Patents, Showing How Lands were Patented from the Crown &amp; Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia, Including Some History of the Patentees, Indians, Church &amp; State, Parishes, Ministers, Prominent Men, Surveys, Portraits, Maps, Airplane ... The Dietz Press, 1942.
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1694-1742. Vol. I. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. ; digital version at Ancestry. [Includes Westmoreland County.]
 * Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775. Vol. II. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997. ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Westmoreland County.]
 * Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666. Vol. I (1934; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1991). ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes Westmoreland County. N.B. If Ancestry's search engine fails, try checking the printed index at the end of the book.]

Surveys


 * Hudson, J. Paul. "An Early Westmoreland County Land Survey Made in 1783," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 7 (1957).

Local Histories

 * Beale, George W. "A Ride Through Westmoreland County, Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 2 (1952).
 * Oberseider, Nancy Lou. The Wearing Apparel of the Women of Westmoreland County, Virginia, 1700-1775. College of William and Mary, 1966.
 * Westmoreland 350th Anniversary Commission. Westmoreland County, Virginia: The Cradle of the Nation. Carden Jennings Publishing Co., 2003.
 * Wright, T. R. B. et al. Westmoreland County, Virginia: Parts I and II: A Short Chapter and Bright Day in its History. Richmond, Virginia: Whittet &amp; Shepperson, Printers, 1912. Fiche 6100262; digital versions at Google Books (full-view) and Ancestry ($); and World Vital Records ($).

Maps

 * Eaton, David Wolfe. Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, Virginia: Patents, Showing How Lands were Patented from the Crown &amp; Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia, Including Some History of the Patentees, Indians, Church &amp; State, Parishes, Ministers, Prominent Men, Surveys, Portraits, Maps, Airplane ... The Dietz Press, 1942.

Colonial Militia

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. [Identifies some Westmoreland County militia officers in 1724 and 1727; see place name index.]
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. ; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some Westmoreland County militia officers in 1680 and 1699; see place name index.]
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia County Records, New Series. Vol. I, Westmoreland County. Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey: The Genealogical Association, 1913. Digital book available at Ancestry ($). [Includes militia records.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. [Identifies some Westmoreland 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. ; 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 Westmoreland County, see p. 102.]
 * Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. ; digital book at Ancestry ($). [Identifies some militia officers in Westmoreland County in 1758; see place name index.]

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


 * - 5th Virginia Regiment
 * - 15th Virginia Regiment (10th Company)

Additional resources:


 * Minutes of Freeholders Meetings, Westmoreland Co., Va., from Nov. 28, 1775 to Aug. 27, 1776. MSS., Fordham University, New York City. Microfilm: 17787 Item 1
 * O'Dell, Jeffrey M. "The War of Independence and the Northern Neck of Virginia," [Chapter III, Westmoreland County Associators, Justices, High Sheriffs, Widows and Husbands in Continental Service, Sons in Service] Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 21 (1971).
 * "Resolution Opposing The Stamp Act, Adopted at Leedstown, Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 27, 1766, Memorialized on a Marble Table on the Wall of the Court House at Montross, Virginia. Transcript of the Resolution," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 1 (1951).
 * Shearman, Virginia W. "Revolutionary War Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots of Richmond and Westmoreland Counties, VA (1775-1783)," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 25 (1975); Vol. 26 (1976).
 * 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 version: Google Books. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Westmoreland County on page 133.]
 * 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.]

War of 1812
Westmoreland County men served in the 111th Regiment.


 * 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, Westmoreland County, p. 107. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]

Civil War

 * - 9th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Lee's Light Horse).


 * - 15th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A (Northern Neck Rangers) (Lee's Legion).
 * - 47th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Montross Guards).
 * - 55th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Westmoreland Greys).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 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)
 * Hutt, Charles Warren. The Diary of Charles Warren Hutt of Westmoreland County, Virginia: (Kept While a Prisoner of War at Point Lookout, Maryland, 1864). 1970.
 * Norris, Walter Biscoe Jr., ed, Westmoreland County Virginia 1653-1983, pp. 373-439.

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Miscellaneous Records

 * 1607-2007 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Native American
The Appomattox Tribe lived in the area in the late 1600s.


 * "Native Americans of Westmoreland County," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 53 (2003).

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.

Occupations

 * Beale, Lucy Brown. "Westmoreland County, Early Ordinaries in Westmoreland and Their Early Keepers," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 8 (1958).
 * Hudson, J. Paul. "Pottery-Making in Westmoreland County in the Seventeenth Century," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 25 (1975).
 * "Westmoreland County Grist Mills," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol 53 (2003).

Petitions
Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy of The Library of Congress, American Memory, has placed eight petitions from residents of Westmoreland County, Virginia dated 1778, 1778, 1785, 1785, 1785, 1786, 1786, and 1786 online. Principally, they concern matters of the Church of England. Petitions are valuable to genealogists because they contain lists of names of residents of the community.


 * "Miscellaneous Legislative Petitions From The Counties of Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland and Lancaster," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 10 (1960).
 * "Westmoreland County, Virginia, Legislative Petitions," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1971):18-31. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).

Private Papers

 * [Brown] McKenney, Lucy Young. "Excerpts from a Manuscript of Thomas Brown," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 18 (1968).
 * [Hutt] Hutt, Charles Warren. The Diary of Charles Warren Hutt of Westmoreland County, Virginia: (Kept While a Prisoner of War at Point Lookout, Maryland, 1864). 1970.
 * [Lee] Coldham, Peter Wilson. "Correspondence with the American Colonies 1739-1782," The Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1998):108-128; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Fall 1998):189-205. [Overseas correspondence of a resident of Westmoreland County with the following surname: Lee.]
 * [Lee] Coldham, Peter Wilson. "Correspondence with the American Colonies 1739-1782," The Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1998):108-128; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Fall 1998):189-205. [Overseas correspondence of a resident of Westmoreland County with the following surname: Lee.]

Probate Records
Local Court


 * Crozier, William Armstrong, ed.. Virginia County Records, New Series. Vol. I, Westmoreland County. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, USA: The Genealogical Association, 1913. Digital versions at Ancestry ($) and World Vital Records ($). Includes will abstracts, 1654-1794.
 * Fleet, Beverley. Virginia Colonial Abstracts: Westmoreland County, 1653-1657. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1961. Digital book available at Ancestry ($). [Includes wills.]
 * Fothergill, Augusta Bridgland Middleton. Wills of Westmoreland County, Virginia, 1654 - 1800. [Richmond?]: Appeals Press, 1925. Baltimore, MD: Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1990. Original 1421722 Item 5, reprint:  975.524 P28f 1990; digital version at World Vital Records ($).
 * Fothergill, Augusta Bridgland Middleton. Wills Omitted from Original Publication of Wills of Westmoreland County, Va., by Augusta B. Fothergill: List Later Presented by the Author to Virginia State Library in Typewritten Copy. 1943.
 * King, George H.S. "Index. Westmoreland County Virginia. Deeds 1709-1804 and Wills 1755-1800. Unrecorded Wills and Deeds from a Folume at the Library of Virginia," Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 22 (1972).
 * Lewis, James F. "Nuncupative Will of Gilbert Campbell, Westmoreland County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1974):227. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * The Will of Edward Ransdell of Cople Parish in the County of Westmoreland, Va., 1724 [incomplete citation from Google Books.]
 * Westmoreland County, Virginia Wills, 1654-1800. Database available at Ancestry ($).
 * Digital Images of Westmoreland County Wills, 1755-1804. See names of Testators. Virginia Pioneers

London Courts


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes wills of residents of Cople Parish, Leeds [Leedstown], Mattox, Nominy [Nomini Hall], Washington Parish, and Westmoreland County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

'Online Probate Links


 * 1639 – 1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry.com — index to transcribed records, incomplete, $
 * 1755 – 1804 – Images of Wills. Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1706 – 1804 – Images of Wills and Deeds. Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1653 – 1950 – General Index to Wills (by dates).Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1706 – 1804 – Index to Deeds. Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1653 – 1671 – Online Images of Wills & Estates - Bk 1 Virginia Pioneers $
 * 1691 – 1699 – Online Images of Wills & Estates - Bk 2 Virginia Pioneers $
 * 1707 – 1709 – Online Images of Wills & Estates - Bk 4, Virginia Pioneers $
 * 1712 – 1716 – Online Images of Wills & Estates - Bk 5, Virginia Pioneers $

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?


 * [1739-1740] Partridge, Craig. "The 1739-40 Rent Roll for Cople Parish, Westmoreland County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 42, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1998):211-216. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..
 * [1776] Lewis, James F. "Westmoreland County, Virginia, Tithables, 1776," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1975):210-213. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * [1782] Land tax list, 1782, Researcher. Richmond VA: Jan 1928. Vol. 2 Iss. 2.
 * [1782] Land taxes, 1782, Tidewater Virginia Families. Williamsburg VA: Aug 1998. Vol. 7 Iss. 2.
 * [1782] James, Edward Wilson. "Slave Owners, Westmoreland County, Va., 1782," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 10 (1903):229-235. ; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available as ; digital version at JSTOR ($).
 * [1782-1815] Heinegg, Paul. "Westmoreland County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1815," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
 * [1783] - Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * [1783] 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. Online at FamilySearch - free; [1783 personal property tax list of Westmoreland County.]
 * [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. Westmoreland County is included in Vol. 2.]
 * [1791, 1800] Indexed images of the 1791 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Westmoreland 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. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Westmoreland County is included in Vol. 3.]
 * [1850] Free male Negroes list, 1850, Tidewater Virginia Families. Williamsburg VA: Feb 1997. Vol. 5 Iss. 4
 * [1865-1883] Mayo, William. Sale of Delinquent Lands: List of Real Estate in Westmoreland Co., Va., Delinquent for Non-Payment of the Taxes Assessed ... from 1865 to 1883, Inclusive ... Take Notice! on the 23rd day of August, 1886 ... I Shall Proceed to Sell All Lands Above Mentioned ... 1886.

Birth

 * 1853-1866 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1912-1913 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage

 * 1649-1800 - Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia 1649-1800: Marriages and Marriage References for the Counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Old Rappahannock, Richmond, and Westmoreland. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.


 * 1660-1800 - Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 (Ancestry) ($).


 * 1660-1959 - Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1691-1692 - King, George H.S. "Some Westmoreland County Marriages 1691-1692," The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 23, No. 1 (Jan. 1943):85. Digital versions at JSTOR ($)


 * 1740-1850 - Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 (Ancestry) ($).


 * 1771-1943 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1780s-1840 - Lewis, James F. "Westmoreland County, Virginia, Marriages," [1780s-1840] The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1966):25-26. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These loose court papers were not filed properly and do not appear in some published abstracts of Westmoreland County marriages.]
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry.com ($) — index
 * 1786-1908 - Westmoreland County Marriage Index 1786-1908. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1786-1850 - Nottingham, Stratton. The Marriage License Bonds of Westmoreland County, Virginia from 1786 to 1850. Originally published: Onancock VA: [s.n.], 1928. Reprint: Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1975. Reprint: ; digital version at World Vital Records ($).


 * 1786-1820s - Crozier, William Armstrong. Early Virginia Marriages. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1953.Includes Westmoreland County marriages 1786-1820s.


 * 1802-1842 - "William Forester Marriage Register 1802-1842," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1966):3-10; Vol. 10, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1966):57-65. Digital version at American Ancestors ($)..


 * 1853-1935 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1936-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1857-1896 - Westmoreland County Death Index 1857-1896. Batch at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1912-1987 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Voting Records

 * Lion, Jane A. "A List of Voters in the 1741 Burgess Election from Westmoreland County, Va.," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1981):275-280. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).
 * "Polls in Westmoreland County for Election of Burgesses [1744-1761]," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jul. 1899):32. Available at JSTOR ($). Identifies candidates by name, but not voters.

Westmoreland County, Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library
 * The Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society
 * Tidewater Genealogical Society
 * Middle Peninsula African-American Genealogical &amp; Historical Society

Family History Centers
To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Westmoreland County, Virginia Genealogy Websites

 * Westmoreland County, Virginia USGENWEB
 * Westmoreland County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
 * "Northern Neck," Wikipedia.
 * RootsWeb Mailing List: VA-NORTHERN-NECK-L
 * Westmoreland Neighbors
 * Colonial Beach History
 * Cyndi's List
 * Cyndi's List


 * Virginia Pioneers ($)