Bedford County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Bedford County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Bedford County is located in the west-central portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named in honor of John Russell, the fourth Duke of Bedford, who was Secretary of State for Great Britain during the reign of King George II.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Bedford County Courthouse
123 East Main Street
Bedford, Virginia 24523
Phone: 540-586-7632
Bedford County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has birth records 1853-1897 and 1912-1918, death records 1953-1918, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1754.[3]
Bedford County, Virginia Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
Birth | Marriage | Death | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1853 | 1754 | 1853 | 1754 | 1754 | 1754 | 1810 |
General compliance year is unknown. |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
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Census-designated places | ||
- Bedford Villages: Lost and Found. 1997. The Peaks of Otter Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Bedford, Virginia : The Chapter.
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
The county was named after the 4th Duke of Bedford, John Russell (1710-1771).
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.
- 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- The Mills of Bedford County. 2006. Bedford, Virginia : Bedford City/County Museum.
- The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. 1952. By George Barton Cutten. Richmond, Virginia : The Dietz Press, Incorporated. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 U23c. Includes a section on Liberty (now Bedford) silversmiths and watchmakers.
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Virginia are online at: Immigrant Servants Database.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1986 Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.
Historical populations | ||
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Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 10,531 | — |
1800 | 14,125 | 34.1% |
1810 | 16,148 | 14.3% |
1820 | 19,305 | 19.6% |
1830 | 20,246 | 4.9% |
1840 | 20,203 | −0.2% |
1850 | 24,080 | 19.2% |
1860 | 25,068 | 4.1% |
1870 | 25,327 | 1.0% |
1880 | 31,205 | 23.2% |
1890 | 31,213 | 0.0% |
1900 | 30,356 | −2.7% |
1910 | 29,549 | −2.7% |
1920 | 30,669 | 3.8% |
1930 | 29,091 | −5.1% |
1940 | 29,687 | 2.0% |
1950 | 29,627 | −0.2% |
1960 | 31,028 | 4.7% |
1970 | 26,728 | −13.9% |
1980 | 34,927 | 30.7% |
1990 | 45,656 | 30.7% |
2000 | 60,371 | 32.2% |
2010 | 68,676 | 13.8% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". United States Census Bureau. |
1790
Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
1800
Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
1850
- 1850 Bedford County, VA Census. By Marvin Neighbors. Signal Mountain, TN : Mountain Press. Online at:Mountain Press.
1890 Union Veterans
- Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. c1994. By Ronald Ray Turner. Online at: Prince William County Virginia, FHL Collection; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- Beaver Dam (1801).Charter members (1804) have been published in Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Fall 2000). FHL Book 975.5 D25v v. 24 (2000).
- Difficult Creek (1805).[7]
- Goose Creek (1771).[8] Also known as Turner's Meeting House, Bedford Baptist Church, and Morgan's Baptist Church. A detailed history was published in 1971.[9] 24 founding members, history, and pastors (1771-1969) appear in Green Stone (pages 163-165).[10] Edwards published a membership list dated 1771 in Materials Towards a History of the Baptists...
- Little Otter, Bedford, Va. (1797). Later known as Liberty Baptist Church and later as Bedford Baptist Church. A history was published in 1996: FHL Book 975.5676 K2g.[11]
- Mount Hermon [North Fork of Otter][12] (1804)
- 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).[13]
- Suck Spring (1805)
- Timber Ridge (1805)
- 1776 Petition of Baptists (10,000 names!) and sympathizers from all over Virginia, dated 16 October 1776, asking for an end to persecution of Baptists by the established church. After locating your ancestor, view the digital copies.
– Digital copies at Library of Congress; also at Library of Virginia using the code word "000606093"
– Hall, Jean Pickett. "Legislative Petitions: the 10,000 name petition" transcription in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vols. 35-38, with annotations in Vol. 39, (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1983-) online at Ancestry ($) and in book form at various libraries.
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 at: Library of Virginia Digital Collections.
- Meade's 1861 History of Parishes in Bedford County. 1861. By Bishop Meade. Philadelphia, PA : J.B. Lippincott & Co. Online at: Internet Archive[14]
Presbyterian
- Between Enthusiasm and Stoicism: David Rice and Moderate Revivalism in Virginia and Kentucky. 2008. By Andrew M. McGinnis. Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 106, No. 2 (Spring 2008):165-190.
- One religious petition (1774) from Presbyterian residents of Bedford County, Virginia is online at: Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.
Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):
- Goose Creek Monthly Meeting (1757-1813) aka Lower Goose Creek[15]
- Goose Creek Monthly Meeting, Montvale, Va. (1788-1812) aka Upper Goose Creek.[16] The original records have been microfilmed: FHL Films 33937-33939. In 1905, Bell published the early records, which are now available online for free at Google Books.[17] Wright also published early records (1756-1800): FHL Book 975.567 K2w.[18] Hinshaw also published the early records: FHL Book 973 D2he 1993 v. 6.[19]
- Ivy Creek Monthly Meeting (1795-1815)
- 1739-1793 Quaker Records of Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting, Virginia, 1739-1793 by Mary Marshall Brewer. Colonial Roots, Lewes, DE., 2002. FHL Book 975.5462 K2b. *Jane Douglas Summers Brown Quaker Records (1903-). By Jane Douglas Summers Brown and Jones Memorial Library. Lynchburg, Virginia. MS 1515. MSS. 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.
Petition
- Seven religious petitions (1774, 1774, 1778, 1779, 1779, 1782, 1785) from residents of Bedford County, Virginia are available online at: Early Virginia Religious Petitions, courtesy: The Library of Congress: American Memory.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Online Court Indexes and Records
- Bedford County, Virginia Chancery Records 1755-1912 are online at: The Library of Virginia Digital Collections. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.[20]
- Governor's Fees & Etc., Bedford County Fee Book. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Aug. 2003):225-226. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vs.
- Individuals Listed in the 1754-1761 Bedford County Fee Book. By Barbara Vines Little.Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 47, No. 1 (Feb. 2009):74-84; Vol. 47, No. 2 (May 2009):102-106. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vs.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Virginia are online at: Immigrant Servants Database.
- During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 1 British alien living in Bedford County.[21]
- Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 1966. By Katherine B. Elliott. South Hill, Virginia : K.B. Elliott. 2 vols. 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) 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.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- 1865-1872 Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Bedford County had one of the largest enslaved populations in the state: 1860 - 10,176 enslaved and 1870 - 10,770 one of the largest African American populations in Virginia.[22]
- African American Odyssey showcases African American collections from the Library of Congress.
- Bedford County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1805, 1806-1816. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Free African Americans.
- Bedford County Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820. By Dorothy A Boyd-Rush. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 45, No. 2 (May 2007):110-122.
- Bedford County Register of Free Negroes, 1803-1820. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Free African Americans.
- Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. c2005. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Free African Americans; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Free Negroes in Southern Bedford County for the Year 1851. Online at: VAGenWeb.
- Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans in Bedford County.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Compiled Genealogies by Surname:
- See Bedford County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for list of published books and articles or jump to a surname using the alphabet bar.
Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Familes:
- Sketch Book of Liberty, Virginia : Its People and Its Trade. 1887. By Edward Pollock. Portsmouth, VA : Library of Congress. Online at: Ancestry ($).
- 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 ancestors.
- Ackerly, Mary Denham and Lula Eastman Jeter Parker. Our Kin: The Genealogies of Some of the Early Families Who Made History in the Founding and Development of Bedford County, Virginia. Lynchburg, Va.: J.P. Bell Co., 1930. FHL Film 973275 Item 1.
- Bishop, Rachel Parsons Flynn. Green Stone: A History of Southern Bedford County, Virginia. Moneta, Va.: R.P.F. Bishop, c1996. FHL Book 975.5675 H2b.
- Blankenship, Gayle King. Some Families of Bedford & 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, Va.: G.K. Blankenship, 2000. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library; FHL Book 929.273 Sa22b.
- 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.
- 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.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
For land indexes, records, and databases, see Virginia Land and Property, including Colonial and State Land Grants.
Online Land Indexes and Records
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: FHL Map 975.5675 E7h.
Deeds
- Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book A-1: 1754-1762. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, TN : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book B-2: 1761-1766. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, TN : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- Bedford County, Virginia; Deed Book C-3: 1766-1771. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, TN : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
Grants and Patents
Land patents (pre-1779), land grants (after 1779) and surveys are available online at the Library of Virginia website. For step-by-step instructions on retrieving these records, read the Virginia Land and Property article.
- 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[edit | edit source]
- A Description of the Peaks of Otter. By Henry Morgan. Lynchburg, VA : Virginian Job Office. Online at: Ancestry ($).
- Bedford County Records. Genealogy: A Journal of American Ancestry - No. 134. January 1922. Pompton Lakes, New Jersey : The Biblio Company Publishers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library. Bedford County Records found on page 55.
- Bedford County, Virginia, 1840-1860: The History of an Upper Piedmont County in the Late Antebellum Era. c1985. By W. Harrison Daniel. Bedford, Virginia : W.H. Daniel. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Bedford Villages-- Lost and Found. 1997. By Daughters of the American Revolution, Peaks of Otter Chapter (Bedford, VA). Bedford, VA : The Chapter. 3 vols. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Early Virginia Wills. Genealogy: A Journal of American Ancestry - Vol. 4, No. 06. June 1914. New York City, NY : William M. Clemens, Publisher. Online at: Digital Library.
- Green Stone: A History of Southern Bedford County, Virginia. c1996. By Rachel Parsons Flynn Bishop. Moneta, Virginia : R.P.F. Bishop. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia, Illustrated - Special Virginia Edition. 1884. By R. A. Brock, Secretary of the Virginia Historical Society. New York, NY : H.H. Hardesty & Co., Publishers. Online at: Digital Library.
- Historical Sketch [of] Bedford County, Virginia : 1753-1907. 1907. Lynchburg, VA : J.P. Bell Co. Online at: Internet Archive, Google Books, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- The History of Bedford County, Virginia : The Colorful 200-year Record of One of Virginia's Oldest and Proudest Communities. c1954. By Jeter Parker Lula. Bedford, VA. : Bedford Democrat. At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For map collections, online and in libraries, see Virginia Maps.
for more resources
- Historical Map of Bedford County, Virginia, 1750-1865. 1973. Roanoke Historical Society. Map. Virginia : J.R. Hildebrand. Online at: Library of Virginia.
- FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
- Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 1966. By Katherine B. Elliott. South Hill, Virginia : K.B. Elliott. 2 vols. 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) 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.
Military Records[edit | edit source]
French and Indian War
- Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. 2007. By William F. Boogher. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co. Online at: Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat). 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.]
- 1651-1776 Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 M2c; digital book at Ancestry ($). Identifies some County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.
- Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. 1988. By Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 M2bL.
Dunmore War
- Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper and Fincastle Payrolls and Public Service Claims, 1775: Also Known as Dunmore's War: Enlarged and Photocopied. 2004. Fort Wayne, Indiana : Allen County Public Library. Online at: FamilySearch Online Books.
Revolutionary War
- 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. Online at: Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
- 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. Washington : Blair and Rives. Online at: Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat). See Virginia, Eastern District, Bedford County on pages 128-129.
- Bedford County Militia, 1758 (part 1). 1820. Transcribed from: William Waller Hening. Franklin Press, Richmond, Virginia. Online at: USGenWeb.
- Bedford County Militia, 1758 (part 2). 1820. Transcribed from: William Waller Hening. Franklin Press, Richmond, Virginia. Online at: USGenWeb.
- Bedford County, Virginia, 1774-1783: A Study of Participation in the War for Independence. 1977. By John Stephen Westerlund. Utah State University, Department of History and Geography.
- Index to Revolutionary Pension and Bounty-Land Documents at the Library of Virginia. 2012. Compiled by C. Leon Harris. Online at: Library of Virginia.
- 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." FHL Book 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans. Virginia section begins on page 238.
- Revolutionary War Pensions of Bedford County, Virginia. 1988. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, TN : Mountain Press. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War: McAllister's Data. c1913. By J. T. McAllister. Hot Springs, Virginia : McAllister Pub. Co. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
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
- - 14th Virginia Regiment
- - Bedford County Militia. The Bedford County Minute Men were commanded by Captain Moses Greer.[23]
The 5th Virginia Regiment recruited soldiers from Bedford County, Virginia.
War of 1812
Bedford County men served in the 10th and 91st Regiments.[24]
- 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... 1883. Washington, D.C : Government Printing Office. Online at: Internet Archive, Google Books. See Vol. 5, Virginia, Bedford County, p. 63-64.
- Roster of War of 1812, Southside, Virginia. By James L. Douthat. 2007. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list. At various libraries (WorldCat).
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 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)
- Remnants of War 1861-1865: Civil War Records for Bedford County, Virginia. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- The Bedford Light Artillery: 1861-1865. 1903. By Rev. Joseph A. Graves. Bedford, VA : Bedford Democrat. Online at: Hathitrust, Google Books.
Regiments: Civil War service men in Bedford 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:
- - 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).[25]
- - 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Old Dominion Rifles), Comapny G (Bedford Grays), and Company H (Patty Layne Rifles).[26]
- - 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).[27]
- - 42nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Buford Grays).[28]
- - 58th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies A (Walker Guards), B (Stewartsville Tigers), C (Big Island Greys), I (Staunton Yeomanry), and K (Kasey's Greys).[29]
World War II
- 1940-1945 Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1940-1945 Military records of Bedford County men with the Armed Forces of World War II : alphabetically arranged
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1906-1929 Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
For online newspaper resources, see the Virginia Newspapers page.
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.
- Marriages and Deaths Found in Early Bedford Newspapers (Bedford Democrat). By Carole Field Lacy. 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.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Petitions
- 1785 Petition for an Inspection Station for Tobacco Hemp & Flour at Lynches Ferry. Bedford Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Feb. 2008):10-11.
- A Calendar of Legislative Petitions Arranged by Counties Accomac - Bedford (Virginia State Library). By H.J. Eckenrode. 1908. Richmond, Virginia : Davis Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing. Online at: Google Books. Bedford County petitions (1777-1858) are described on pp. 210-234.
- Petitions of Residents of Bedford and Henry Counties, Virginia, in Favor of and Opposed to a New County (Franklin). By Dorothy C. Watts. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1980):83-89; Vol. 24, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1980):192-199. Available at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
Private Papers
- [Burton] - Burton Family Letters, Bedford County, Virginia,. By Nettie Leitch Major. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun.1976):83-89. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
For probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- Abstracts of Bedford County, Virginia, Wills, Inventories and Accounts, 1754-1787. By Joida Whitten. 1969. Dallas, Texas. Reviewed in The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1970):36. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg.
- Bedford County, Virginia Index of Wills from 1754 to 1830. 1917. By D. Buford Rowland. New York, NY : William M. Clemens. Online at: Google Books.
- Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 1 and 2. Will Book 1: 1759-1787 and Will Book 2: 1787-1803. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- Bedford County, Virginia Will Book 3: 1794 to 1810. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed: Will of Major John Dinwiddie of King George County, Virginia. By George Harrison Sanford King (and Dinwiddie Family Notes). The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1959):51-64. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 B2vg.
- Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755 - 1800, Bedford County, Virginia: Index of Wills, 1754 - 1830. 1989. By Earle S. Dennis and Jane E. Smith. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Pub. Co. Reprinted with: Bedford County, Virginia: Index of Wills, from 1754 to 1830 - edited by Rowland D. Buford. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5675 V2d 1989;
- Virginia Wills Before 1799: A Complete Abstract Register of All Names Mentioned in Over Six Hundred Recorded Wills, ... Copied from the Court House Records of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Loudoun, Prince William and Rockbridge Counties. 1924. By William M. Clemens. Pompton Lakes, NJ : Biblio Co. Online at: Access Genealogy, Ancestry ($), Heritage Quest Online ($). Mountain Press provides online surname list for their 2004 reprint.
- 1633-1800 Wills and Estate Records Index at Library of Virginia.
- 1763-1787; 1788-1805 Images of Wills, Estates, Inventories, Bonds Virginia Pioneers ($).
- 1639-1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry — index, incomplete ($)
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 ($) at Ancestry.com
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
For additional online collections and the value and use of Virginia's tax lists in your research, see Virginia Taxation.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
Online Bedford County, Virginia Tax Lists | |||||||||||
Type | Index | Images | |||||||||
Free | FHC | Fee | Free | FHC | Fee | ||||||
Insolvents | - | - | 1757 | - | - | - | |||||
Insolvents | - | - | 1762 | - | - | - | |||||
Tithes | - | - | 1763 | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1782 | - | - | - | 1782 | 1782 | |||||
Personal Property | 1783 | - | - | - | 1783 | 1783 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1784 | 1784 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1785 | 1785 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1786 | 1786 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1787 | 1787 | |||||
Delinquents | - | - | - | - | - | 1787 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1788 | 1788 | |||||
Delinquents | - | - | - | - | - | 1788 | |||||
Personal Property | 1789 | - | - | 1789 | 1789 | 1789 | |||||
Delinquents | - | - | - | - | - | 1789 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | 1790 | 1790 | |||||||
Delinquents | - | - | - | - | - | 1790 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1791 | 1791 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1792 | 1792 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1793 | 1793 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1794 | 1794 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1795 | 1795 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1796 | 1796 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1797 | 1797 | |||||
Insolvents | 1797 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1798 | 1798 | |||||
Insolvents | 1798 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1799 | 1799 | |||||
Personal Property | 1800 | - | 1800 1|2|3 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1801 | 1801 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1802 | 1802 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1803 | 1803 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1804 | 1804 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1805 | 1805 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1806-1875 | - |
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- 1757 Insolvents, 1757. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct. 2002), pp. 306-307. FHL 975.5 B2vg.
- 1762 Insolvents, 1762. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 1985), p. 72. Online at: Ancestry ($). FHL 975.5 B2vs.
- 1763 Tithes, 1763. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 1985), p. 73. Online at: Ancestry ($). FHL 975.5 B2vs.
- 1764 Bedford County Tithables, 1764. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 46, No. 2 (May 2008):89-90. FHL 975.5 B2vs.
- 1782-1805 Bedford County Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1805. Online at: Binns Genealogy ($).
- 1782 Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940. By Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle. Baltimore, MD : Genealogical Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, FHL 975.5 R4f 1978. 1782 personal property tax list of Bedford County.
- 1782 Tax List, 1782. Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Feb. 1981); Vol. 5, No. 2 (May 1981).
- 1782-1816 Bedford County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1805, 1806-1816. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Free African Americans.
- 1782; 1784; 1816 Tax Digests. Online at: Virginia Pioneers ($).
- 1783 Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783. Online at: Revolutionary War Service.
- 1784-1820 Land and Lots Returned as Delinquent, 1784-1820. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 44, No. 4 (Nov. 2006). FHL 975.5 B2vs.
- 1787 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. By Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Speakman Love. c1987. Springfield, Virginia : Genealogical Books in Print. At various libraries (WorldCat). The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Bedford County is included in Vol. 1.
- 1787-1790 Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790. By Robert Y. Clay. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):114-115. Online at: FHL, American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). These records identify migrants who left the county and often their intended destinations. Bedford County's 1787 Delinquent List appears on pp. 114-115.
- 1789, 1800 Indexed images of the 1789 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Bedford County, Virginia - Binns Genealogy.
- 1789 Bedford County Personal Tax List Column Headings. Online at: - Binns Genealogy.
- 1795 Bedford County Insolvents, 1795. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 46, No. 3 (Aug. 2008):203-204. FHL 975.5 B2vs.
- 1797-1798 Insolvent Lists for 1797 and 1798. Virginia Appalachian Notes, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Aug. 1986), pp. 43-44. Online at: Roanoke Public Library.
- 1800 Bedford County, Virginia 1800 Tax List. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1963):65-70; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1963):118-124; Vol. 7, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1963):167-172. Online at: American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL 975.5 B2vg.
- 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 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 1997-2000. By Roger D. Ward. Athens, Georgia : Iberian Pub. Co. 6 vols. FHL 975 E4w v. 2. 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. FHL 975.5 B2vs. Non-payment of taxes before 1820.[30]
- 1864 Tariff of Tolls to be Charged on Blue Ridge Turnpike and Ferry, 1864. Spring 2004 Museum News. Bedford, Virginia.
- 1915 Thomas Jefferson Tax List, Poplar Forest. 1915. Southsider. Vol. 12, No. 2. Charlotte Court House, Virginia. (1993).
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1866 Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1856 Bedford County, Virginia Birth Records: 1853-1856. By Ann Chilton. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Vol. I. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- 1853-1897 Bedford County Birth Index 1853-1897. C868570 .[31]
- 1912-1913 Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Record of Births and Deaths Amongst Friends in Campbell and Bedford Counties, Taken from the Old Southriver Meeting Book. Online at: Genealogy Gophers.
- 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Virginia, Birth Records, 1912-2014, Delayed Birth Records, 1854-1911. Online at: Ancestry ($).
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages - Findmypast ($).
- 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1755-1800 Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755-1800 Ancestry ($).
- 1755-1800 Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755-1800. 1932. By Earle S. Dennis and Jane E. Smith. Bedford, Virginia : E.S. Dennis and J.E. Smith. Online at: Ancestry ($), World Vital Records ($).
- 1781-1790 Bedford County Marriage Bonds at Virginia Pioneers ($).
- 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index ; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1936-1988 Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Bedford County Marriage Bonds - VAGenWeb
- Some Early Marriages in Bedford County, Va. 1903. By Joseph L. Miller. The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Apr. 1903):280-282. Online at: JSTOR. Taken from Mrs. R.B. Claytor's abstracts published in the Louisville Courier Journal.
Death[edit | edit source]
- Deaths are online in the Library of Virginia's Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, sponsored by Virginia Genealogical Society.
- 1853-1860, 1868-1880 Bedford County, Virginia Death Records 1853-1860 and 1868-1880. By Marvin Neighbors. Signal Mountain, Tenn : Mountain Press. Mountain Press provides online surname list.
- 1853-1897 Bedford County Death Index 1853-1897. B868571
- 1912-1987 Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Record of Births and Deaths Amongst Friends in Campbell and Bedford Counties, Taken from the Old Southriver Meeting Book. Online at: Genealogy Gophers.
- Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917. Online at: Ancestry ($).
- 1853-1912 Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014. Online at: Ancestry ($).
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1918-1988 Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Bedford County. For state-wide facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Lynchburg Virginia Family History Center
- Pembroke Virginia Family History Center
- Roanoke Virginia Family History Center
- Montgomery Floyd Regional Library, Blacksburg - an affiliate library
- Montgomery Floyd Regional Library, Christiansburg - an affiliate library
- Montgomery Floyd Regional Library, Meadowbrook - an affiliate library
- Roanoke Public Library, Blacksburg or Roanoke - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Bedford County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
- Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library
Bedford, VirginiaWebsite - Bedford County Genealogical Society, Bedford, Virginia
- Bedford Historical Society, Inc, P O Box 602, Bedford, Virginia 24523
- Central Virginia Genealogical Association
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Bedford County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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[edit | edit source]
- A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Bedford County. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1960):171-175. Online at: American Ancestors($).
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/VA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#BEDFORD Newberry]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, in "Bedford County, Virginia", accessed 18 June 2022.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bedford_ County,_Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_County,_Virginia accessed 12 November 2019.
- ↑ Rachel Parsons Flynn Bishop, Green Stone: A History of Southern Bedford County, Virginia (Moneta, Va.: R.P.B. Bishop, 1996), 16. FHL Book 975.5675 H2b.
- ↑ Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia (Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 338-339. Digital version at Google Books.
- ↑ Harold B. Oyer, History Morgan's Baptist Church 1771-1971 (1971); see also "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.
- ↑ Rachel Parsons Flynn Bishop, Green Stone: A History of Southern Bedford County, Virginia (Moneta, Va.: R.P.B. Bishop, 1996). FHL Book 975.5675 H2b.
- ↑ June Goode, Page Wilkerson, Pamela C. Turpin and Bedford Baptist Church, Bedford Baptist Church, 1797-1997: Two Hundred Years of Serving God and Man: Bedford, Virginia (Bedford, Va.: B and B Printing, 1996). FHL Book 975.5676 K2g.
- ↑ Monica Najar, Evangelizing the South: A Social History of Church and State in Early America (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 228.
- ↑ Rachel Parsons Flynn Bishop, Green Stone: A History of Southern Bedford County, Virginia (Moneta, Va.: R.P.B. Bishop, 1996). FHL Book 975.5675 H2b.
- ↑ William Meade, Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, 2 vols. Online at: Vol. I Internet Archive, Vol. II Internet Archive.
- ↑ Jay Worrall, The Friendly Virginians: America's First Quakers (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994), 537-539. FHL Book 975.5 K2wj.
- ↑ Jay Worrall, The Friendly Virginians: America's First Quakers (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994), 537-539. FHL Book 975.5 K2wj.
- ↑ James Pinkney Pleasant Bell, 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). FHL Book 975.5 K2bj; digital version at Google Books - free.
- ↑ F. Edward Wright, Quaker Records of South River Monthly Meeting, 1756-1800 (Westminster, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1993). FHL Book 975.567 K2w.
- ↑ William Wade Hinshaw, Thomas W. Marshall and John Cox, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy (Ann Arbor, Mich.: Edwards Bros., 1950). Vol. 6. FHL Book 973 D2he 1993 v. 6.
- ↑ "CHANCERY RECORDS INDEX AVAILABILITY" Library of Virginia (accessed 28 Nov 2017).
- ↑ Kenneth Scott. British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979, 320-333. FHL Collection 973 W4s; digital version at Ancestry ($).
- ↑ Ninth Census of the United States: Statistics of Population, Tables I to VIII Inclusive (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1872), 70. Digital version at Internet Archive; FHL Book 973 X2pcu.
- ↑ Revolutionary War Pension of John Wright, 1832, Pension S6449. Abstract at Southern Campaign in the Revolutionary War.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 51. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ Edward R. Crews and Timothy A. Parish, 14th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1995). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 117.
- ↑ Frank E. Fields, 28th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1985). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 15.
- ↑ Johnny L. Scott, 34th Virginia Infantry (Appomattox, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1999). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 135.
- ↑ John Chapla, 42nd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1983). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 5.
- ↑ Robert J. Driver, Jr. 58th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1990). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 68.
- ↑ Online Catalogue, Virginia https://www.virginiahistory.org/collections/search-collections.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Online at: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/3/37/Igivirginia.pdf.