Virginia, Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection is NARA publication M2094 Southern Claims Commission Approve Claims, 1871-1880: Virginia and is from RG 217. Approved applications are arranged by county and then alphabetical by name. These are records of Virginia, Southern Claims from civilians seeking compensation for lost or destroyed property as a result of the Civil War.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Information may differ between cases and may include any of the following:


 * Name of claimant
 * Description and value of property
 * Date of incident
 * Details of incident
 * Witnesses' names


 * Relationships
 * Place of incident
 * Residences
 * Document and recording dates
 * Occupations

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use a probate record to identify guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use a will to approximate a death date, then find a death certificate
 * Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records for earlier years
 * Use the information to locate census, christenings, marriage and land records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals with the same family number

Research Helps

 * Virginia Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Related Collections

 * Frank W. Klingberg. The Southern Claims Commission. Berkeley, California : University of California, 1955.
 * Gary B. Mills. Southern Loyalists in the Civil War : the Southern Claims Commission.Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1994. FHL 975 M2s
 * Gary B. Mills. Civil War Claims in the South : an index of Civil War damage claims filed before the Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880.Laguna Hills, California : Aegean Park Press, 1980. FHL 975 H22m
 * Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission) 1871-1880: M0087, 14 roll

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.