Bedford County, Virginia Genealogy

United States   Virginia    Bedford County

Bedford County, Virginia genealogy and family history research page. Guide to Bedford County (established 1752) genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

County Courthouse


Bedford County, Courthouse 129 East Main Street Bedford, Virginia 24523 Phone: 540-586-7601

Clerk Circuite Court has birth records 1853-1897 and 1912-1918, death records 1953-1918, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1754

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

Record Loss

 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1890

Populated Places

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

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Bedford County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1960):171-175. Digital version at American Ancestors ($).

African American
In 1860, Bedford County had one of the largest slave populations in the state (10,176 slaves). Ten years later in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (10,770).

Freedmen's Bureau

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. Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. 2005-present. - free online book. Blake, Chavis, Clark, Driggers, Ferrar, Henson, Hill, Jackson, Johns, Mason, Moss, Pagee, Patterson, Ruff, Scott, Seldon, Smith, Turner, Tyre, Valentine, Wallace of pre-1820 Bedford County, Virginia.
 * 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.]
 * Free Negroes in Southern Bedford County, for the Year 1851 (based on 1851 personal property tax list), available online, courtesy: VAGenWeb.

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


 * Tombstone Transcription Project Bedford County - cemetery transcriptions - USGenWeb

1790
Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.

1800
Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.

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.]

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * 1) Beaver Dam (1801). Charter members (1804) have been published in Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Fall 2000)..
 * 2) Difficult Creek (1805).
 * 3) Goose Creek (1771). Also known as Turner's Meeting House and Morgan's Baptist Church. A detailed history was published in 1971. 24 founding members, history, and pastors (1771-1969) appear in Green Stone (pages 163-165).
 * 4) Little Otter, Bedford, Va. (1797). Later known as Liberty Baptist Church and later as Bedford Baptist Church. A history was published in 1996:.
 * 5) North Fork of Otter
 * 6) Otter 
 * 7) Staunton River (by 1787). Also known as Moody Meeting House. A brief history and list of pastors (1790-1958) was published in Green Stone (pages 240-242).
 * 8) Suck Spring (1805)
 * 9) Timber Ridge (1805)

Bedford County fell within the bounds of the Strawberry Association.

Church of England
See also Cumberland Parish See also Russell Parish


 * 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
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Goose Creek Monthly Meeting (1757-1813) aka Lower Goose Creek
 * Goose Creek Monthly Meeting, Montvale, Va. (1788-1812) aka Upper Goose Creek. The original records have been microfilmed: . In 1905, Bell published the early records, which are now available online for free at Google Books. Wright also published early records (1756-1800): . Hinshaw also published the early records:.
 * Ivy Creek Monthly Meeting (1795-1815)


 * 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 . [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.
 * "Governor's Fees &amp; Etc., Bedford County Fee Book," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Aug. 2003):225-226. Available at.

Genealogy
More than 250 genealogies have been published about Bedford County families. To view a list, visit Bedford County, Virginia Genealogy.

Immigration
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 1 British alien living in Bedford County.

Land and Property
An early settlers map is available for Bedford County. Hildebrand plots the locations of pioneers from 1750-1865. The Family History Library has a copy:.

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, and Internet Archive.

Migration

 * Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):113-118. ; digital version at American 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 ; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at ; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at . [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 . [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 ; 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 and ; 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.

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


 * - 1st Virginia Regiment
 * - 5th Virginia Regiment
 * - 5th Virginia Regiment
 * - Bedford County Militia. The Bedford County Minute Men were commanded by Captain Moses Greer.

Additional resources:

The 5th Virginia Regiment recruited soldiers from Bedford County, Virginia. A history and drawings of the uniforms this regiment would have used is available at Field Music of the American Revolution.

A militia list survives identifying folks from Bedford County who served:


 * "Militia List - Capt. Adam Clements [96 Campaign, about May 1, 1781 - about July 31, 1781, Entered service from Bedford county, VA and enrolled in the militia regiment of Major Alexander Rose and Major John Ward,"] transcribed by James L. Lynch III. Available for free online, courtesy: Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution.

Additional resources include:

Bedford residents recommended for military commissions during the 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." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]

War of 1812
Bedford County men served in the 10th and 91st Regiments.


 * 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.]
 * 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, Bedford County, p. 63-64.]

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company A (Clay Dragoons), Company F (Bedford Southside Dragoons), Company G (Radford Rangers)
 * - 14th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company B (Bedford Rifle Grays).
 * - 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Old Dominion Rifles), Comapny G (Bedford Grays), and Company H (Patty Layne Rifles).
 * - 34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Piedmont Battery B), Company G (Bedford Heavy Artillery), Company H (Powhatan Artillery), and Company I (Captain Sales Heavy Artillery).
 * - 42nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Buford Grays).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 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.
 * Virginia, Civil War Service
 * Virginia, Civil War Service

Naturalization
Virginia

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 . [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. ; digital version at American Ancestors ($).

Probate Records

 * 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 ; digital version at World Vital Records ($).
 * King, George Harrison Sanford. "Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed: Will of Major John Dinwiddie of King George County, Virginia," [and Dinwiddie Family Notes] The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):51-64. Available at.
 * Rowland, D. Buford. Bedford County, Virginia Index of Wills from 1754 to 1830. New York: William M. Clemens, 1917. Digital book at Google Books (Full-view).
 * Whitten, Joida. Abstracts of Bedford County, Virginia, Wills, Inventories and Accounts, 1754-1787. Dallas, Texas, 1969. Reviewed in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1970):36. Review available at ; digital version at New England Ancestors ($).

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 ($). [Taken from Mrs. R.B. Claytor's abstracts published in the Louisville Courier Journal.]
 * Dennis, Earle S. and Jane E. Smith. Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755-1800 . Bedford, Va.: E.S. Dennis and J.E. Smith, 1932. Digital book available at Ancestry ($); 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 County Genealogical Society, Bedford, Virginia
 * Bedford Historical Society, Inc
 * P O Box 602, Bedford, Virginia 24523
 * Central Virginia Genealogical Association

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Websites

 * Bedford County, Virginia USGENWEB
 * Cyndi's List
 * Cyndi's List

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