Grayson County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Grayson 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]
Grayson County is located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia sharing a border with North Carolina. The county was named for William Grayson, one of Virginia’s first two senators.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Grayson County Courthouse
129 Davis Street/P.O. Box 130
Independence, VA 24348-0130
Phone: 276-773-2231
Grayson County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, probate, court, and land records from 1793[4]
Grayson 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 | 1793 | 1853 | 1793 | 1793 | 1793 | 1810 |
General compliance year is unknown. |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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:[7]
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
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]
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 | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1800 | 3,912 | — |
1810 | 4,941 | 26.3% |
1820 | 5,598 | 13.3% |
1830 | 7,675 | 37.1% |
1840 | 9,087 | 18.4% |
1850 | 6,677 | −26.5% |
1860 | 8,252 | 23.6% |
1870 | 9,587 | 16.2% |
1880 | 13,068 | 36.3% |
1890 | 14,394 | 10.1% |
1900 | 16,853 | 17.1% |
1910 | 19,856 | 17.8% |
1920 | 19,816 | −0.2% |
1930 | 20,017 | 1.0% |
1940 | 21,916 | 9.5% |
1950 | 21,379 | −2.5% |
1960 | 17,930 | −16.1% |
1970 | 15,439 | −13.9% |
1980 | 16,579 | 7.4% |
1990 | 16,278 | −1.8% |
2000 | 17,917 | 10.1% |
2010 | 15,533 | −13.3% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
1800 Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
1810 Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
1840
- Douthat, James L. 1840 Mountain Empire of Virginia Census. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2001. FHL Collection 975.5 X2d 1840. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. [Includes Grayson County.]
1890 Union Veterans
- "Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. FHL Collection. Includes residents of this county.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- Cedar Island or Fox Creek (1782)[8]
- Meadow Creek (1797).[8] A list of new members (1840) was published in Glimpses of Grayson, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Dec. 1985).
- N. Fork of New River (1796)[8]
Grayson County fell within the bounds of the Holston and Mountain Associations.
Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):
- Chestnut Creek Monthly Meeting (1785-1841)[9]
- Fruit Hill Monthly Meeting (1790-1814)[9]
- Mount Pleasant Monthly Meeting (1790-1825, 1980s)[9]
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Online Court Indexes and Records
Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Index can be used to search for Grayson County chancery records for the years 1795-1912. Original records 1795-1899 may be closed for digitization, but the full index is available.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration
During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 1 British alien living in Grayson County.[10]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- 1800-1860 Grayson County, Virginia Slaveholders 1800-1860 (New River Notes) - free.
- 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
- Heinegg, Paul. "Grayson County Personal Property Tax List, 1805-1818," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
- Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized images of African Americans of Grayson County.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
- See Grayson County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles, or jump to the surname using the alphabet bar.
Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families
- Nuckolls, B.F. Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia. Bristol, Tennessee: The King Printing Company, 1914. FHL Collection 873858 Item 4; 1975 reprint: FHL Collection; digital versions at Ancestry ($); Google Books; and World Vital Records ($). [Chapters on the Bourne, Cornett, Cox, Dickey, Flower, Garland, Goodykoontz, Hale, Hash, Jones, Kenney, Nuckolls, Osborne, Phipps, Reeves, and Swift families.]
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.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
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
- FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Revolutionary War
- Kegley, Mary B. Revolutionary War Pension Applications of Southwest Virginia Soldiers. n.p.: M.B. Kegley, 1997. Available at FHL. [Includes Grayson County pensioners.]
- 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 at Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Western District, Grayson County on page 134.]
- 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.
War of 1812
- Grayson County, Virginia in the War of 1812
- List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FHL Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Grayson County, p. 82. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
Regiments. Grayson County men served in the 78th Regiment.[11]
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)
Regiments. Civil War service men in Grayson 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:
- - 4th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (Grayson Dare Devils).[12]
- - 4th Regiment, Virginia State Line (Cavalry and Infantry) (Confederate). Companies B and D.[13]
- - 8th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company C (Grayson Cavalry)[14]
- - 22nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Bowen's Virginia Mounted Riflemen) (Confederate). Company G.
- - 37th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Dunn's Battalion, Partisan Rangers) (Confederate). Company D and Company I.[15]
- - 45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Grayson Rifles).[16]
- - 50th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Wilson Rifles) (Grayson Hornets).[17]
- - 51st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies A and D.[18]
- - 63rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (McMahon's) (Confederate). Companies C and G.[19]
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.
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 the Virginia Gazette and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: The Geography of Slavery in Virginia.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
For probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1633-1800 Wills and Estate Records Index at Library of Virginia.
- 1793-1849 Grayson County, Virginia Wills 1793-1849 (New River Notes) - free.
- 1796-1839;1839-1849Images of Wills and Estates 1796-1839;1839-1849. Virginia Pioneers ($)
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
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 Grayson County, Virginia Tax Lists | |||||||||||
Type | Index | Images | |||||||||
Free | FHC | Fee | Free | FHC | Fee | ||||||
Personal Property | 1794, 1794 | - | - | - | 1794 | 1794 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1795 | 1795 | |||||
Personal Property | 1796 | - | - | - | 1796 | 1796 | |||||
Land | 1796 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1797 | 1797 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1798 | 1798 | |||||
Personal Property | 1799 | - | - | - | 1799 | 1799 | |||||
Land | 1799 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1800, 1800 | - | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1801 | 1801 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1802 | 1802 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1803 | 1803 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1804 | 1804 | |||||
Personal Property | 1805 | - | - | - | 1805 | 1805 | |||||
Land | 1805 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1806 | 1806 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1807 | 1807 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1809 | 1809 | |||||
Personal Property | 1810 | - | - | - | 1810 | 1810 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1811 | 1811 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1812 | 1812 | |||||
Personal Property | 1813 | - | - | - | 1813 | 1813 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1814 | 1814 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1815-1816 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1817 | - | - | - | 1817 | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1818-1823 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1824 | - | - | - | 1824 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1825 | - | - | - | 1825 | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1826-1827 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1828 | - | - | - | 1828 | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1829-1834 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1835 | - | - | - | 1835 | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1836-1850 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1863 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1890 | - | - | - | - | - |
Bibliography
- Tax Laws, Local, Glimpses of Grayson, Vol. 9, Nos. 1-2 (Jun. 1988).
- 1794-1814 Grayson County Personal Property Tax Lists 1794-1814 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
- 1794 Grayson County, Virginia Tax List - 1794 (New River Notes) - free.
- 1794 1794 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1796 The 1796 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1799 The 1799 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1800 The 1800 Grayson County, Virginia Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1800 "Grayson County, Virginia, 1800 Tax List," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1981):204-210. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
- 1805 The 1805 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1805 The 1805 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1805-1818 Heinegg, Paul. "Grayson County Personal Property Tax List, 1805-1818," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
- 1810 The 1810 Grayson County, Virginia Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1810 Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Grayson County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.]
- 1810 Tax List, 1810, Southwest Virginian, Vol. 5, No. 27 (Dec. 1982).
- 1810 Tax List, 1810, Southwest Virginia Ancestors, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Spring 1995); Vol. 9, No. 2 (Summer 1995).
- 1813 The 1813 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists (New River Notes) - free.
- 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Grayson County is included in Vol. 5.]
- 1815 Kegley, Mary B. Southwest Virginia Tax Assessments, 1815: Grayson, Lee, Scott, Russell, Washington, and Wythe Counties. Wytheville, Va.: Kegley Books, 1991. Original edition and 1992 supplement available at FHL. [The source for this publication is a private collection of 1815 tax assessment tickets for the First District of Virginia. The tickets includes landowners' names, number of acres or lots, number of buildings along with descriptions, and number of slaves. N.B. These are not the 1815 land tax books.]
- 1817 The 1817 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1824 The 1824 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1825 The 1825 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1828 The 1828 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1835 The 1835 Grayson County Virginia Personal Property Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1863 The 1863 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
- 1890 The 1890 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List (New River Notes) - free.
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
- 1853-1879, 1884-1888 Grayson County, Virginia Birth Records 1853-1879, 1884-1888, under Vital Statistics. (New River Notes).
- 1912-1913 Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
- 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index ; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1793-1836 Grayson County, Virginia Marriages 1796-1836 (New River Notes) - free.
- 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1853-1931 Grayson County, VA Marriages 1853-1931 (New River Notes) - free.
- 1936-1988 Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1896 Grayson County, Virginia Death Register 1853-1870 and Records 1870-1896 (New River Notes) - free.
- 1912-1987 Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1912 Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1918-1988 - Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — index & images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Grayson 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
- Washington County Public Library - Damascus Branch - an affiliate library
- Washington County Public Library - Glade Spring Branch - an affiliate library
- Smyth County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Grayson County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Grayson County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Grayson Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
- Cyndi's List
- 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: Grayson County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1967):157-159. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ https://www.graysoncountyva.gov/
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grayson _ County,_Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayson_County,_Virginia#Communities accessed 15 January 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia (Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), 358-359. Digital version at Google Books.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Jay Worrall, The Friendly Virginians: America's First Quakers (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994), 537-539. FHL Book 975.5 K2wj.
- ↑ Kenneth Scott, British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812 (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979), 320-333. FHL Book 973 W4s; digital version at Ancestry ($).
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 95. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ James I. Robertson, 4th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.F. Howard, 1982). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 1.
- ↑ The Virginia State Line: Organizational Structure of the Virginia State Line, Ranger95.com, accessed 11 June 2012.
- ↑ Jack L. Dickinson, 8th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1986). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 25.
- ↑ J.L. Scott, 36th and 37th Battalions Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1986). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 24.
- ↑ J.L. Scott, 45th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1989). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 58.
- ↑ John C. Chapla, 50th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1997). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 129.
- ↑ James A. Davis, 51st Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1984). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 9.
- ↑ Jeffrey C. Weaver, 63rd Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1991). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 76.