Lee County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Lee 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]
Lee County is located in the far southwestern corner of the Commonwealth of Virginia and shares borders with Kentucky and Tennessee. Lee County is named for Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia, 1791-1794.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lee County Courthouse
33640 Main Street
PO Box 326
Jonesville, VA 24263-0326
Phone: 540-346-7763
Lee County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has birth and death records 1853-1877, marriage records from 1830, divorce records from 1832, probate records from 1800, and court and land records from 1793[3]
Lee 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 | 1830 | 1853 | 1793 | 1793 | 1800 | 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:[7]
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
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 | 3,538 | — |
1810 | 4,694 | 32.7% |
1820 | 4,256 | −9.3% |
1830 | 6,461 | 51.8% |
1840 | 8,441 | 30.6% |
1850 | 10,267 | 21.6% |
1860 | 11,032 | 7.5% |
1870 | 13,268 | 20.3% |
1880 | 15,116 | 13.9% |
1890 | 18,216 | 20.5% |
1900 | 19,856 | 9.0% |
1910 | 23,840 | 20.1% |
1920 | 25,293 | 6.1% |
1930 | 30,419 | 20.3% |
1940 | 39,296 | 29.2% |
1950 | 36,106 | −8.1% |
1960 | 25,824 | −28.5% |
1970 | 20,321 | −21.3% |
1980 | 25,956 | 27.7% |
1990 | 24,496 | −5.6% |
2000 | 23,589 | −3.7% |
2010 | 25,587 | 8.5% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
1790 See Parent County.
1800 Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.
1810 Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.
1830
- Simmons, Don. Lee County, Virginia, Census of 1830. [Virginia?]: D. Simmons, 1976. Available at FHL; digital version at World Vital Records ($).
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 Lee County.]
1890 Union Veterans' Census
- Turner, Ronald Ray. Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. Available online, courtesy: Prince William County Virginia website. [Includes this county.]
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- Deep Spring (1797)[8]
Lee County fell within the bounds of the Holston and Mountain Associations.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Online Court Indexes and Records
- Lee Circuit Court
- Library of Virginia's Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index can be used to search for digital images of Lee County chancery records for the years 1857-1912.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration
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
- Kegley, Mary B. Free People of Colour: Free Negroes, Indians, Portuguese and Freed Slaves. Wytheville, Virginia: Kegley Books, 2003. FHL
- Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Lee 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 Lee 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
- Bicentennial Book Committee et al. Bicentennial History of Lee County, Virginia 1792-1992. n.p.: Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society and Don Mills, 1992. FHL Collection 975.5735 H2b
- Laningham, Anne Wynn and Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales. Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and Adjacent Counties. 2 vols. Greensboro, N.C.: Media, Inc., 1977. FHL Collection 975.5735 D2L v. 1
- Lockwood, Frances B. and Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales. Annotations, Corrections and Additions to Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and Adjacent Counties. 1978. FHL Collection 975.5735 D2L v. 2 supp
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]
- Historical Facts of Lee County, Virginia. Pennington Gap, Va.: Pennington High School, 1930. FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($).
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 Lee 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. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Western District, Lee County on page 135.]
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, Lee County, p. 87. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
Regiments. Lee County men served in the 94th Regiment.[9]
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 Lee 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:
- - 1st Regiment, Virginia Artillery (Confederate)
- - 20th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate) - possibly from Lee County
- - 25th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B, Company G (Lee Rangers), Company H, and Company I (Lee Rangers aka Lee Greys).[10]
- - 32nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate) -possibly from Lee County
- - 37th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Walnut Hill Company).[11]
- - 48th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Lee County Guards).[12]
- - 50th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Lee Rifles), Company B, and Company G (2nd).[13]
- - 64th Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Companies A, B, C1, C2.[14]
- Lee Home Guard
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]
Private Papers
- Bell, Annie W.B. Southwest Virginia Historical Records: Family Bible Records of the People Living in Lee County, Virginia Adjoining Historical Cumberland Gap, Tennessee One Year Before the Civil War Began, During which the Families were Separated, Many Never to Meet Again, as Taken from the 1860 Census of the United States ... 195-?. FHL US/CAN Access Services Window 6015650-6015655.
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin
Genealogical articles with abstracts of Lee County, Virginia records have been published in the Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin (39+ vols., 1972-present), the journal of the Watauga Association of Genealogists. The organization has posted tables of contents for most volumes on their website. Back issues are available for purchase.The Family History Library has a complete collection FHL US/CAN Books 976.897 B2w, including Margaret W. Hougland and Betty Jane Hylton's Bulletin Subject Index: The First Thirty Years, 1972-2001 (Johnson City, Tenn.: Watauga Association of Genealogists, 2002) FHL US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w index 1972-2001.
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.
- 1793-1944 General Index to Wills and Estates Virginia Pioneers.net ($)
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 Lee County, Virginia Tax Lists | |||||||||||
Type | Index | Images | |||||||||
Free | FHC | Fee | Free | FHC | Fee | ||||||
Personal Property | 1795 | - | - | 1795 | 1795 | 1795 | |||||
Land | 1795 | - | - | 1795 | - | 1795 | |||||
Personal Property | 1796 | - | - | 1796 | 1796 | 1796 | |||||
Land | 1796 | - | - | 1796 | - | 1796 | |||||
Personal Property | 1797 | - | - | 1797 | 1797 | 1797 | |||||
Land | 1797 | - | - | 1797 | - | 1797 | |||||
Personal Property | 1798 | - | - | 1798 | 1798 | 1798 | |||||
Land | 1798 | - | - | 1798 | - | 1798 | |||||
Personal Property | 1799, 1799 | - | - | 1799, 1799 | 1799 | 1799 | |||||
Land | 1799, 1799 | - | - | 1799, 1799 | - | 1799 | |||||
Personal Property | 1800 | - | - | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | |||||
Personal Property | 1801 | - | - | 1801 | 1801 | 1801 | |||||
Personal Property | 1802 | - | - | 1802 | 1802 | 1802 | |||||
Personal Property | 1803 | - | - | 1803 | 1803 | 1803 | |||||
Personal Property | 1804 | - | - | 1804 | 1804 | 1804 | |||||
Personal Property | 1805 | - | - | 1805 | 1805 | 1805 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1806 | 1806 | 1806 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1807 | 1807 | 1807 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1809 | 1809 | 1809 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1810 | 1810 | 1810 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1811 | 1811 | 1811 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1812 | 1812 | 1812 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | 1813 | 1813 | 1813 | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1814-1834 | - | |||||
Personal Property | 1835 | - | - | - | 1835 | - | |||||
Personal Property | - | - | - | - | 1836-1850 | - |
Bibliography
The original Lee County Personal Property Tax Lists are held at the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has acquired microfilms the Library of Virginia made for the years 1795-1850: FHL US/CAN Films 2024603-2024604.
The original Lee County Land Tax Lists are held at the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library does not have microfilm copies of these records, but has acquired abstracts for select years published in genealogical journals.
Lee County is also fortunate in being part of the First Tax District whose detailed 1815 records survive in the Kincade Private Papers. The Family History Library has acquired a microfilm copies of these records from the Library of Virginia: FHL US/CAN Film 1993745 Item 1 and FHL US/CAN Film 1993745 Item 2. These records were also abstracted, published, and indexed by Kegley (see below).
- 1795-1805 1795-1805 Lee County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists; indexes online at New River Notes - free.
- 1795-1799 Lee County Land Tax Lists 1795-1799 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
- 1795-1813 Lee County Personal Property Tax Lists 1795-1813 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
- 1795-1799 1795-1799 Lee County, Virginia Land Tax Lists; indexes online at New River Notes - free.
- 1799 Indexed images of the 1799 Personal Property Tax List of Lee County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
- 1799 Indexed images of the 1799 Land Tax List of Lee County, Virginia is available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
- 1806 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1806 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer 1986):129-130; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Fall 1986):195-198. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 5 (1986).
- 1807 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1807 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Fall 1986):198-199; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Winter 1986):263-267. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 5 (1986).
- 1809 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1809 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Spring 1987):33-34; Vol. 6, No. 2 (Summer 1987):120-123; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Fall 1987):191-192. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 6 (1987).
- 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. FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 R4s. [The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Lee County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.]
- 1810 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1810 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Summer 1987):120-123; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Fall 1987):192-193; Vol. 6, No. 4 (Winter 1987):276-277; Vol. 7, No. 1 (Spring 1988):61-62; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Fall 1988):190-192. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 6 (1987) ff.
- 1812 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1812 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Fall 1989):169-175. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 8 (1989).
- 1815 Kincaid, Bathsheba. "Lee County, Virginia Tax Book for 1815," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall 1985):175-176. FHL US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 4 (1985).
- 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. FHL US/CAN Book 975 E4w v. 5. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Lee 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: FHL US/CAN Book 975.57R4k and FHL US/CAN Book 975.57R4k supp. [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.]
- 1835 1835 Lee County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List; index online at 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
- 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 ($)
- Book 1 Lee County Marriages at VAGenWeb
- 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
- 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1851-1929 Virginia Marriages 1851-1929 (Ancestry) ($).
- 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
Death[edit | edit source]
- 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 Lee 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 - Main Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Lee County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Lee County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Lee Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
- 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]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, in Lee County, Virginia, accessed 4 February 2021.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lee_ County,_Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_County,_Virginia#Communities accessed 10 February 2020.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 124. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ Dobbie E. Lambert, 25th Virginia Cavalry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1994). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 106.
- ↑ Thomas M. Rankin, 37th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1987). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 37.
- ↑ John D. Chapla, 48th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1989). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 54.
- ↑ John C. Chapla, 50th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1997). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 129.
- ↑ Jeffrey C. Weaver, 64th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1992). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 89.