Prince William County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Prince William 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]
Prince William is located in the Northern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and included in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. It was named after the second son of England's King George II[2].
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Prince William County Courthouse
9311 Lee Avenue
Manassas, VA 20110-5586
Phone: 703-792-6141
Prince William County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1856, divorce and court records from 1823, probate records from 1734 and land records from 1731[3]
Prince William 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 |
1864 | 1856 | 1864 | 1823 | 1731 | 1731 | 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:[8]
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Historic communities | ||
Historic African American communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
The county is named after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765), a son of King George II of Great Britain.
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]
- Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. FHL Collection. Includes a section on Dumfries silversmiths.
- "Prince William County, Virginia Post Officers: Listed Alphabetically by Post Office" (1800s-1900s) is available online through RELIC.
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Some examples of documents about occupations on this site:
- "Prince William County Virginia Business and Occupations, 1800-1899: Ordinary Keepers"
- "Prince William County Virginia Business and Occupations, 1800-1899: Physicians"
- "Manassas Virginia 1870-1970 Businesses"
- "Prince William County Business Licenses, 1806-1899"
- "Prince William County Business Licenses, 1900-1928"
- "Prince William County Business Licenses, 1900-1970"
- "Prince William County Virginia 1805-1955 Businesses"
- "Prince William County Virginia Edmund Berkeley's Evergreen Farm Day Book 1897-1905"
- "Prince William County Virginia Edmund Berkeley's Evergreen Farm Day Book 1905-1910"
- "Prince William County Virginia Edmund Berkeley's Farm Day Book 1851-1855 - Partial"
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Website contains many documents about the county's cemeteries. Some examples are:
- "Prince William County Burial Index 1800-2001 part one A-K"
- "Prince William County Burial Index 1800-2001 part two L-Z"
- Other cemetery records include:
- 1800-1986 Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- "Bell Family Tombstone Found in Manassas," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 9 (Mar. 1992):70. FHL Collection
- "Confederate Burials in the Small Confederate Cemetery Located on the Manassas Battlefield, Prince William County," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 10 (Apr. 1990):77-78. FHL Collection
- "Keys Family Cemetery," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Oct. 1983). FHL Collection
- "Nash Family Cemetery," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 9, No. 6 (Dec. 1990):46. FHL Collection
- Wilson, Donald L. "The Cemeteries of Prince William County," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 11 (May 1992):84-85; Vol. 10, No. 12 (Jun. 1992):94-95; Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jul. 1992):6-7. FHL Collection
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1790 | 11,615 | — |
1800 | 12,733 | 9.6% |
1810 | 11,311 | −11.2% |
1820 | 9,419 | −16.7% |
1830 | 9,330 | −0.9% |
1840 | 8,144 | −12.7% |
1850 | 8,129 | −0.2% |
1860 | 8,565 | 5.4% |
1870 | 7,504 | −12.4% |
1880 | 9,180 | 22.3% |
1890 | 9,805 | 6.8% |
1900 | 11,112 | 13.3% |
1910 | 12,026 | 8.2% |
1920 | 13,660 | 13.6% |
1930 | 13,951 | 2.1% |
1940 | 17,738 | 27.1% |
1950 | 22,612 | 27.5% |
1960 | 50,164 | 121.8% |
1970 | 111,102 | 121.5% |
1980 | 144,636 | 30.2% |
1990 | 215,686 | 49.1% |
2000 | 280,813 | 30.2% |
2010 | 402,002 | 43.2% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
1790 - Lost.
1800 - Lost.
1810
- "1810 Census Alphabetically Arranged." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1820
- "1820 Census Alphabetically Arranged." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1830
- "1830 Census Alphabetically Arranged." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1840
- "1840 Census Annotated." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Turner attempts to identify individuals recorded statistically by age and gender.
1850
- "1850 Census Annotated." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1860
- "1860 Census Annotated." Prince William County Virginia, by David Anderson Turner. Adds many biographical details to the bare skeleton of this census.
1870
- "1870 Census Annotated." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1880
- "1880 Census Alphabetically Arranged", and "1880 Prince William Census Notes". Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1890 Union Veterans
- Mays, Judith. "Union Veterans of the Civil War Living in Prince William County in 1890," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jul. 1989):6-7; Vol. 8, No. 2 (Aug. 1989):12-15; Vol. 8, No. 5 (Nov. 1989):39. FHL Collection
- "Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890" Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Includes residents of this county.
- FHL Collection
1900
- "1900 Census Alphabetically Arranged." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1910
- "1910 Census Alphabetically Arranged - Partial Census." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1920
- "1920 Annotated Census." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
1930
- "1930 Census Alphabetically Arranged." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Website contains an information about the county's historic church sites and structures.
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 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 ($) and in book form at various libraries.
Prince William County fell within the bounds of the Ketocton Association.
A Baptist petition dated 1776 was published in Seattle Genealogical Society Bulletin, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Mar. 1973). FHL Book 979.777 B2b v. 22 (1972-1973).
Church of England
See also Dettingen Parish
See also Hamilton Parish
See also Leeds Parish
See also Truro Parish
Presbyterian
For a photograph of this church, see Ron Turner's Prince William County Virginia website.
- "The First 93 Members of the Manassas Presbyterian Church, Manassas, Virginia," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 1, No. 9 (Jan. 1983). FHL Collection
- "Roll of Members of the Manassas Presbyterian Church from the Date of Its Organization July 7th, 1867," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 1, No. 10 (Feb. 1983); Vol. 1, No. 11 (Mar. 1983); Vol. 1, No. 12 (Apr. 1983); Vol. 1, No. 13 (May 1983); Vol. 1, No. 14 (Jun. 1983). FHL Collection
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Online Court Indexes and Records
General
- Lounsbury, Carl R. "'An Elegant and Commodious Building': William Buckland and the Design of the Prince William County Courthouse," The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 46, No. 3 (Sep. 1987):228-240. Available at JSTOR.
Bonds
- "Prince William County Virginia Bond Book 1732-1847" Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. It was necessary to post bonds to legalize many types of legal documents, including land and probate records.
British Claims
- "British Mercantile Claims, 1775-1803 Indexed from The Virginia Genealogist, Vols. 8, 9, 14, 15, 20, 21, 23 and 24," available online through Prince William Public Library, (RELIC). This index serves as a very useful guide to help researchers find the original abstracts in The Virginia Genealogist. These issues of The Virginia Genealogist are accessible online through American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
- "Prince William County Virginia Mixed Commission on British and American Claims: Thomas Pringle vs United States & Arthur C. & Frances Evans vs United States" (1860s-1870s). Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
Chancery Court
- Indexed images of Prince William County, Virginia Chancery Records 1804-1951 are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.
Civil and Criminal Cases
- "Prince William County Index to Civil & Criminal Cases 1752-1930 Defendant." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- "Prince William County Index to Civil & Criminal Cases 1752-1930 Plaintiff." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
County Court
- Durst, Mariona. "Early Prince William Court Order Books," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jul. 1987):7. FHL Collection. In this article, Mariona Durst, Prince William County Archivist, identifies which court order books survive and which have been lost.
- "Old Prince William Document Found in Kentucky," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 9, No. 9 (Mar. 1991):69. FHL Collection. Dated 1760, surnames: Roland, Gibson, and Graham.
- "Prince William County, Virginia, Order Book 1759-1761," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1975):214-226; Vol. 19, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1975):291-308; Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1976):35-44; Vol. 20, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1976):133-144; Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1976):188-198; Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1976):280-288; Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1977):59-66; Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):129-140; Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1977):207-216; Vol. 21, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1977):293-306; Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1978):58-64; Vol. 22, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1978):137-142; Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1978):221-226; Vol. 22, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1978):304-311; Vol. 23, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1979):47-54; Vol. 23, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1979):130-138; Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1979):201-216; Vol. 23, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1979):292-304; Vol. 24, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1980):31-40; Vol. 24, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1979):99-109. Available at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Some examples of documents on this website:
- "Prince William County Court Docket for Commonwealth's Causes" (1833-1869)
- "Prince William County Court Minutes, 1833-1838"
- "Prince William County Court Minutes, 1843-1848"
- "Prince William County Court Minutes, 1890-1891"
Dumfries District Court and Superior Court of Law
- Dumfries District Court Order Books, 1793-1817. Original records, Prince William County Courthouse, Manassas, Va.; microfilm: FHL Collection. Dumfries District Court encompassed Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.
Loose Papers
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Some examples of documents on this website:
- "Prince William County Index to Miscellaneous Clerk's Loose Papers 1710-1968"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume I: Selected Transcripts 1741-1826"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume II: Selected Transcripts 1808-1860 Deeds and Slave Records"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume III: Selected Transcripts 1804-1899 Indictments, Juries, and Trials"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume IV: Selected Transcripts 1811-1899 Miscellaneous Records"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume V: Selected Transcripts 1900-1938"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume VI: Selected Transcripts 1850-185 Executions"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume VII: Selected Transcripts 1833-1938"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume VIII: Selected Transcripts 1897-1915"
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume IX: Selected Transcripts 1802-1920" Note: Document name may be mislabeled.
- "Prince William County Virginia Clerk's Loose Papers, Volume X: Selected Transcripts 1840-1849"
Public Accounts
- "Prince William County Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts 1816-1836 Fines". Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
Superior Court of Chancery
The Superior Court of Chancery of Fredericksburg (1802-1831) had jurisdiction over certain Prince William County court cases. An index has been compiled:
- Indexes of Court Records in the Clerk's Office, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 1782-1904. Original records, Fredericksburg City Courthouse, Fredericksburg, Va., microfilm: FHL Collection. Indexes the following records: District Court law book v. 8, 1782-1792; District Court law books 1790-1793, v. A-F 1789-1811; Superior Court of Law law order books v. G-H 1812-1831; Superior Court of Chancery chancery order books 1814-1831; Hustings Court orders v. A-O 1782-1871; Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery law order books v. A-E 1831-1875; Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery chancery order books v. A-D 1831-1872; Circuit Court chancery order books v. A2, B-C 1875-1904; Fredericksburg District Court (1789-1808) had jurisdiction over the following counties: Spotsylvania (including Fredericksburg), Caroline, King George, Stafford, Orange, and Culpeper; Superior Court of Chancery (1802-1831) had jurisdiction over the following localities: city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fairfax, Lancaster, Northumberland, Madison, King George, Orange, Prince William, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Essex, and Westmoreland.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration
Dumfries was an important port in the colonial period. Only a few official passenger lists survive for the eighteenth century.
- Cantwell, John A. "Imported Indentured White Servitude in Fairfax and Prince William Counties, 1750-1800," unpub. M.A. Thesis, George Mason University, 1986.
- Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Includes will of a resident of Prince William County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.
- Harrison, Fairfax. "When the Convicts Came: A Chapter from 'Land Marks of Old Prince William,'" The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul. 1922):250-260. Available at JSTOR.
- List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Prince Edward, Prince George, and Prince William Counties, Virginia (work in progress), courtesy: Immigrant Servants Database.
- Stickel, Iris Robey. "Eighteenth Century Passenger Lists Found in Prince William County Records," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 4, No. 4-6 (Oct.-Dec. 1985):6-13. FHL Collection 975.52732 D25n v. 4-6 (1985-1988). (Source of data: Prince William County, Va., manuscripts in the Huntington Library (Loose Papers), Reference: Microfilm VA 975.527 Pri., Huntington Library, San Marino, California.)
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
African American
- 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Ronald Ray Turner has abstracted a variety of records pertaining to slavery in this county on his website, Prince William County Virginia. Some examples of documents at that site:
- "Miscellaneous Prince William County Court Records Pertaining to Slavery 1808-1825"
- "Miscellaneous Prince William County Court Records Pertaining to Slavery 1825-1840"
- "Miscellaneous Prince William County Court Records Pertaining to Slavery 1840-1860"
Additional African American resources include:
- Farmer, Darlene V. "African American Genealogical Research," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 8 (Feb. 1992):59; Vol. 10, No. 9 (Mar. 1992):66-67. FHL Collection. Discusses African American research in general, but not specific Prince William County sources.
- African American Heritage Map by Eugene Scheel
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Some examples of documents available on this website:
- "Prince William County Virginia African American Marriages 1854-1938"
- "Prince William County African American Marriages From Sources Outside the County"
- Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Prince William 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 Prince William County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles, or jump to the surname using the alphabet bar.
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
Deeds
Many of Prince William County's early deed books have been lost, as described in this article:
- Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County's Missing Land Records," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 4, No. 4-6 (Oct.-Dec. 1985):3-5. FHL Collection. Identifies which deed books have been lost; includes index references to some lost deeds from Deed Books A and C.
One early deed has been found in private hands:
- Wilson, Donald L. "Early Prince William County Deed Found," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jul. 1987):6-7. FHL Collection
A manuscript index to several of the lost deed books, created in 1827, provides some relief to genealogists searching for ancestors during this time period. Donald Wilson and Judith Mays published these indexes in The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society FHL Collection:
- 1741-1743 Wilson, Donald L. "An Index to Lost Deed Book F, 1741-1743," Vol. 4, No. 12 (Jun. 1986):9. Taken from a manuscript deed index for letters M through W, made in 1827.
- 1743-1744 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book G, 1743-1744," Vol. 8, No. 11 (May 1990):85-86.
- 1744-1745 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book H, 1744-1745," Vol. 9, No. 1 (Jul. 1990):4-5.
- 1746-1748 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book K, 1746-1748," Vol. 9, No. 2 (Aug. 1990):12-13.
- 1751-1754 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book N, 1751-1754," Vol. 9, No. 3 (Sep. 1990):20-21.
- 1754-1760 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book O, 1754-1760," Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct. 1990):28-29; Vol. 9, No. 5 (Nov. 1990):38-39.
- 1771-1774 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book S, 1771-1774," Vol. 9, No. 6 (Dec. 1990):47; Vol. 9, No. 7 (Jan. 1991):54-55.
- 1791-1796 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book Y, 1791-1796," Vol. 9, No. 8 (Feb. 1991):62-63; Vol. 9, No. 9 (Mar. 1991):70-71; Vol. 9, No. 10 (Apr. 1991):78-79.
- 1813-1816 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book 5, 1813-1816," Vol. 10, No. 2 (Aug. 1991):12-13; Vol. 10, No. 3 (Sep. 1991):22-23.
- 1816-1818 Mays, Judith A. "An Index to Lost Deed Book 6, 1816-1818," Vol. 10, No. 10 (Apr. 1992):78-79; Vol. 10, No. 11 (May 1992):86-87.
Grants and Patents
- Cain. 662 patents dated 1657-1855 in what is now Prince William County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. 2007. 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.
- Davey. 253 patents dated 1651-1911 in what is now Fairfax, Fauquier, Northumberland, Prince William, Stafford, and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. 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, which is "Nova" in this instance); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.
- Davey. 18 patents dated 1707-1760 covering neighborhoods in what is now Prince William County, Virginia. DeedMapper. 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.
- Gray, Gertrude E. Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1694-1742. Vol. I. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. FHL Collection; digital version at Ancestry. Includes Prince William County.
Land Causes
- Sparacio, Ruth Trickey, Sam Sparacio, and Dumfries, Va. District Court. Abstracts of Land Causes, Prince William County, Virginia. [1789-1793] 2 vols. McLean, Va.: Antient Press, 1992. FHL Collection
- Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County Land Causes," [1789-1793] The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Aug. 1984):5-7; Vol. 3, No. 7 (Jan. 1985):3-6; Vol. 3, No. 10 (Apr. 1985):6-7; Vol. 3, No. 12 (Jun. 1985):6-7; Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jul. 1985):4-6; Vol. 4, No. 2 (Aug. 1985):3-4; Vol. 4, No. 3 (Sep. 1985):5-7; Vol. 4, No. 7 (Jan. 1986):4-6; Vol. 4, No. 9 (Mar. 1986):3-4; Vol. 4, No. 10 (Apr. 1986):5-7; Vol. 4, No. 12 (Jun. 1986):5-7; Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jul. 1986):5-7; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Sep. 1986):6-9; Vol. 5, No. 6 (Dec. 1986):5-6; Vol. 5, No. 10 (Apr. 1987):5-7. FHL Collection
Surveyor's Plat Book
- Jeffries, Janice. "An Index to Prince William County Surveyor's Plat Book," [1789-1858] The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 1, No. 9 (Jan. 1983). FHL Collection
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Berkley, Henry J. "The Port of Dumfries, Prince William Co., Va.," The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Apr. 1924):99-116. Available at JSTOR ($).
- Ewell, Alice Maude. A Virginia Scene, or, Life in Old Prince William. Lynchburg, Virginia: J.P. Bell Co., 1931. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- Prince William: The Story of its People and its Places. Richmond, Va.: Whittet & Shepperson, 1941. Digital version at Ancestry ($).
- Curtis, Donald E. and Prince William County Historical Commission. The Curtis Collection: A Personal View of Prince William County History. Prince William, Virginia: Prince William County Historical Commission, 1988. FHL Collection
Historic Residences
- Lion, Florence S. "White House, Brentsville, Virginia," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 7 (Jan. 1992):51-52. FHL Collection. Includes a discussion of the owners, the Williams family.
- Historic Prince William Residences
- Prince William County Virginia, website by Ronald Ray Turner contains information about the county's historic residences, sites and structures.
Officials[edit | edit source]
- Burgesses of Prince William County 1728-1774. Available online, courtesy: Historic Prince William website.
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
- Historic Prince William maps
- 1730s "Old Prince William County," Boundaries in 1730s showing some waterways. The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Aug. 1986):4. FHL Collection
- 1759 1759 Bertrand Ewell's Survey of the Fauquier-Prince William Boundary Line April 14, 1759. Includes names of residents.
- 1834 1834 Sperryville and Rappahannock Turnpike, Map 634, Parts 1 & 2, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, available online.
- 1901 1901 Prince William County by William H. Brown, available online, courtesy: American Memory, Library of Congress.
- FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this couinty - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
When British merchants returned to collect unpaid accounts in Prince William County, Virginia after the Revolution, these records, which are now housed in The National Archives in Kew, England, were created. The merchants' records identify individuals who had accounts and reveal if the person had died in the interval (1770s-early 1800s) or migrated to another part of the country. Americans of all social levels were interested in purchasing British imported goods through debt financing, making these records a valuable genealogical source. RELIC has created an online index:
- "British Mercantile Claims, 1775-1803 Indexed from The Virginia Genealogist, Vols. 8, 9, 14, 15, 20, 21, 23 and 24," available online at Prince William Public Library, Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC). This index serves as a very useful guide to help researchers find the original abstracts in The Virginia Genealogist. These issues of The Virginia Genealogist are accessible online through American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
Military Records[edit | edit source]
French and Indian War
- Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. Identifies some Prince William County militia officers, soldier enlistments, and veterans; see place name index.
- Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. FHL Collection; digital version at Google Books. Includes a chapter titled "Legislative Enactments connecting the preceding historic sketch [French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore's War] with the adjudication of the resulting accounts that follow; with the list of officers, soldiers and civilians entitled to compensation for military and other services rendered." For Prince William County, see pp. 97-100, 112.
- Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. FHL Collection; digital book at Ancestry ($). Identifies some Prince William County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.
- Mayo, Sandra. "Fairfax and Prince William Counties in the French and Indian War," Northern Virginia Heritage, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Feb. 1987). Digital version at Historic Prince William.
Revolutionary War
- 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 Book 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Eastern District, Prince William County on page 133.
- 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.
- Pierce, Alycon Trubey. "Wringing Northern Virginians Out of Final Pension Payment Vouchers, 1818-1864," Northern Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr. 1997):73-77. FHL Collection. Identifies married daughters and granddaughters of Revolutionary War Pensioners, and other persons mentioned in these records. Pierce abstracted entries for residents of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.
Regiments. Service men in Prince William County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Prince William County supplied soldiers for the:
War of 1812
Prince William County men served in the 36th and 89th Regiments.[9]
- 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, Prince William County, pp. 99-100. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.
Civil War
Civil War service men in Prince William 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 Cavalry (Confederate)
- - 8th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Evergreen Guards).[10]
- - 17th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (Prince William Rifles).[11]
- - 49th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (Ewell Guards) and Company G (Quantico Guards).[12]
- 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)
- "Civil War Claims from Prince William County," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 6, No. 6 (Dec. 1987):54-55. FHL Collection.
- "First Roster of Prince William Co. Organized Dec 1859," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1983). FHL Collection
- "Last Roll Call, Company A, Fourth Va Cavalry," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 11 (May 1984). FHL Collection
Civil War Battles
The following Civil War battles were fought in Prince William County.
- July 18, 1861 Blackburn’s Ford, also known as Bull Run[13]
- July 21, 1861 Manassas I, also known as First Bull Run[14]
- August 25-27, 1862 Manassas Station Operations[15]
- August 28, 1862 Thoroughfare Gap, also known as Chapman's Mill[16]
- August 28-30, 1862 Manassas II, also known as Second Bull Run, Manassas Plains, Groveton, Gainesville, or Brawner's Farm[17]
- October 14, 1863 Bristoe Station[18]
- January 3, 1862 Cockpit Point, also known as Batteries at Evansport, Freestone Point, or Shipping Point[19]
World War I
- Olson, Ann. "World War I Memorial," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 6, No. 7 (Jan. 1988):59. FHL Collection. Identifies 26 county residents who died in the conflict.
World War II
- 1940-1945 Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
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.
- "Obituary and Estate of John Hooe of 'Mayfield' (1790?-1873)," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 8 (Feb. 1990):62-63. FHL Collection
- Phillips, Carol Thompson. Death Notices, Obituaries & Memoriams: From the Prince William County, Va., Manassas Gazette and Manassas Journal, 1885-1910. [Westminster, Maryland]: Willow Bend Books, 1998. FHL Collection
- Phillips, Carol Thompson. Engagements and Marriages from the Prince William County Gazette & Manassas Journal, 1885-1910. Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 1998. FHL Collection
- "Prince William Gleanings," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 9 (Mar. 1992):70. FHL Collection. Abstract from Maryland Gazette, 1755. Concerns Anne Perrell who states she had been an indentured servant to John Morehead of Prince William County, Virginia.
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Some examples of documents about newspapers on this site:
- "Prince William County Newspaper Transcripts 1861-1864"
- "Prince William County Virginia 1900-1930 Obituaries"
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Auctions[edit | edit source]
- Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. Website has various documents about farm auctions.
Insurance[edit | edit source]
- Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County Fire Insurance Policies, 1796-1846," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 4, No. 8 (Feb. 1986):3-5; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Oct. 1986):5-8; Vol. 5, No. 9 (Mar. 1987):6-8; Vol. 7, No. 9 (Mar. 1989):41. FHL Collection
Private Papers[edit | edit source]
- Prince William County Virginia Miscellaneous. Ronald Ray Turner has abstracted papers relating to Prince William County, Virginia from each of Virginia's governors from 1779 through 1878.
- 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- [Akers] See Manuel.
- [Cocke] "Family bible of William Cocke, Dumfries, Virginia, 1802," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct. 1989):30-31. FHL Collection
- [Foley] Gott, John K. "Foley Bible, 'Mt. Atlas,' Prince William Co., Va.," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1975):118-120. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
- [Gray] "Thomas L. Gray of Prince William County," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 12 (Jun. 1992):91, 93. FHL Collection
- [Huntt] "Huntt Family Bible: Fairfax County, Virginia," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 12 (Jun. 1985):3-5. FHL Collection
- [Leaman] Durham, Karen. "Leaman-Metz Family Bible Record," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 5 (Nov. 1991):35-37. FHL Collection
- [Lynn] Stickel, Iris Robey. "Lynn - Russell Bible," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 12 (Jun. 1990):93-94. FHL Collection
- [McCuin] "McCuin Bible," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 5 (Nov. 1983). FHL Collection
- [Manuel] "Manuel-Akers Bible Record," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 9, No. 11 (May 1991):87. FHL Collection
- [Metz] See Leaman.
- [Norman] "Norman Family Bible Record," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 7, No. 12 (Jun. 1989):64-65. FHL Collection
- [Rector] "Our Rector Line," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 9 (Mar. 1985). FHL Collection
- [Russell] See Lynn.
- [Tolson] "Bible of Daniel W. Tolson and Elizabeth Scott Botts," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Sep. 1983). FHL Collection
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.Local Court
- 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. FHL Collection 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.
- Hopkins, William Lindsay. Some Wills from the Burned Counties of Virginia and Other Wills Not Listed in Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800. Richmond, Virginia: W.L. Hopkins, 1987. FHL Collection. Includes Prince William County.
- Prince William County, Virginia: Index to Probate Records, 1731-1951, available online, courtesy: RELIC.
- Prince William County, Virginia Wills, Part 1, 1734-1951. Database at Ancestry ($).
- Prince William County, Virginia Wills, Part 2, 1734-1920. Database at Ancestry ($).
- "Will of John Owens," [1794] The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 8, No. 9 (Mar. 1990):69-70. FHL Collection. Original will, then in the possession of Miss Louise Booton, Maysville, Kentucky.
London Courts
- Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Includes will of a resident of Prince William County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.
- 1639-1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry — index, incomplete ($)
- 1734-1744 Images of Wills and Estates Virginia Pioneers ($)
- 1734-1781 Abstracts of wills Virginia Pioneers ($)
- 1778-1791 Images of Wills and Estates Virginia Pioneers ($)
- Images of Will Book H, 1792-1803; Book I, 1803-1909 Virginia Pioneers.net ($)
- 1753-1782 Administrator's Bonds (no index) Virginia Pioneers.net ($)
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
- The Brock Collection contains many rent rolls for eighteenth-century Prince William County residents. Edward D.C. Campbell Jr. describes the Library of Virginia's accessions of the Brock Collection in "Library of Virginia and Huntington Library Join to Microfilm Brock Collection," The Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly Newsletter, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Feb. 2003):1-3, which is available as FHL Collection; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.
- 1723, 1724 King, G. Register of Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., Va., 1723-1758. 1961. 1723 Rent Roll of Stafford County, 1724 list of tobacco tenders between Acquia Creek and Quantico Creek; includes area that later became Prince William County.
- 1735/1736 Wilson, Donald L. "An Early Rent Roll for Prince William County," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 5, No. 8 (Feb. 1987):5-11. FHL Collection. Original record held at Huntington Library, San Marino, California; microfilm copy at Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia and Prince William Library (Central and Potomac Branches). Labeled Prince William County, Virginia, Manuscripts in the Huntington Library.
- 1736 "Rent Roll, Prince William County, Va. - 1736," in Junie Estelle Stewart King, Abstracts of Wills, Administrations, and Marriages of Fauquier County, Virginia, 1759-1800. 1939; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001. Available at Ancestry ($). King made numerous errors in reading this rental according to local expert Jim W. Tackitt.
- 1737 Wilson, Donald L. "The Brent Town Survey of 1737," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 6 (Dec. 1983). FHL Collection
- 1738 "Rent Roll of Prince William County 1738," in County Collections: Prince William County at the College of William and Mary, Earl Gregg Swem Library. Copy: FHL Film 1955385 Item 10.
- 1738-1739 1738/39 Rent Roll, Hamilton Parish; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1738-1739 1738-1739 Quit Rental List of Hamilton Parish, Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 13 pages.[20]
- 1741 Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. FHL Collection; digital version at Google Books. Poll List for the Election of Burgesses for Prince William County, Va, 1741, see pp. 116-125.
- 1741 "1741 Prince William County Poll ...," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 6 (Dec. 1984):2-4; Vol. 3, No. 7 (Jan. 1985):6-8. FHL Collection
- 1746 1746 Landholders in Prince William and Fairfax counties; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1747 A List of Tithables [sic] Between Sedderrun [sic] and Boolrun [sic] in Ditingin [sic] Parish in Prince William County for 1747. Photocopy of original records, Prince William County Courthouse, Manassas, Virginia; microfilm: FHL Collection. The original records are held at the Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
- 1747 "Residents of Western Dettingen Parish, 1747," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 8 (Feb. 1985):4-7. FHL Collection
- 1747 List, Tithables, Dettinger Parish, 1747, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Journal. Washington DC: Spring 1985. Vol. 6 Iss. 1.
- 1751 "A List of Taxpayers for Hamilton Parish, 1751," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 10, No. 6 (Dec. 1991):43-45. FHL Collection. Taken from the Account Book of Captain John Crump, Sheriff of Prince William County. "The original book was presented to the Fauquier Historical Society in 1922, by Col. Malcolm H. Crump, Bowling Green, Kentucky," but has since been misplaced.
- 1751-1752 1751/52 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1751-1752 1751-1752 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 20 pages.[20]
- 1751-1779 Jackson, R. Early Virginia. Vol. 1. Includes 1751-1779 rent rolls, but expert Jim W. Tackitt states Jackson omitted many names and made numerous errors.
- 1753 1753 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 28 pages. [20]
- 1753 Rent Roll, 1753, Kindred Spirits. Manassas VA: Mar 1993. Vol. 11 Iss. 9; Apr 1993. Vol. 11 Iss. 10; May 1993. Vol. 11 Iss. 11; Jun 1993. Vol. 11 Iss. 12; Jul 1993. Vol. 12 Iss. 1.
- 1754 1754 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1754 1754 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 18 pages. [20]
- 1758 1758 Hamilton Parish Payments Received; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1760 1760 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1760 1760 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 15 pages. [20]
- 1760 1760 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 24 pages. [20]
- 1761-1762 1761-1762 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1761 1761 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 17 pages. [20]
- 1762 1762 Landholder List; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1762 1762 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 4 pages. [20]
- 1765 1765 Tax List (land and tithables); index online at RELIC - free.
- 1765 Tithable Lists, 1765, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy. Richmond VA: May 1992. Vol. 30 Iss. 2; Aug 1992. Vol. 30 Iss. 3.
- 1767 1767 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1767 1767 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 16 pages. [20]
- 1773 1773 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1773 1773 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 21 pages. [20]
- 1777 1777 Rent Roll; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1777 1777 Rental of Prince William County, Virginia, in "The Brock Collection," Huntington Library, San Marino, California. 19 pages. [20]
- 1782 1782 Land Tax Records; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1782-1810 Prince William County Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1810 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
- 1782-1816 Prince William County Land Tax Lists 1782-1816 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
- 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. Available through the FamilySearch Catalog. 1782 personal property tax list of Prince William County.
- 1783 - Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
- 1783 1783 Personal Property Tax List; index online at RELIC - free.
- 1784 Tax list, 1784, Researcher. Chillicothe MO: Mar 1981. Vol. - Iss. 92; Vol. 2 Iss. 1.
- 1784 1784 Personal Property Tax List; index online at RELIC - free.
- 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 & 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. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. FHL Collection. The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Prince William County is included in Vol. 2.
- 1788, 1799 Images of the 1788 and 1799 Personal Property Tax Lists of Prince William County, Virginia are available to browse online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
- 1800 Tax List, 1800, Virginia Genealogist. Falmouth VA: Apr 2006. Vol. 50 Iss. 2; Jul 2006. Vol. 50 Iss. 3.
- 1800 Personal Property Tax List, 1800, Northern Virginia Genealogy. Lovettsville VA: Spring 1999. Vol. 4 Iss. 2; Summer 1999. Vol. 4 Iss. 3.
- 1800-1899 Merchants License Tax List and Business List, 1800-1899, Kindred Spirits. Oct 1998. Vol. 17 Iss. 4; Jan 1999. Vol. 17 Iss. 7; Feb 1999. Vol. 17 Iss. 8.
- 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. FHL Collection. The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Prince William County is included in Vol. 4.
- 1865-1866 Personal Property Tax List, 1865-1866, Colored Inhabitants, Prince William Reliquary
- 1921-1923 Women Who Paid State Poll Tax, List, 1921-1923, Prince William Reliquary. Manassas VA: Oct 2004. Vol. 3 Iss. 4.
- 1924 Lands and Lots, Delinquent Taxes, 1924, Prince William Reliquary. Manassas VA: Jul 2002. Vol. 1 Iss. 3.
- 1940s Poll Tax, 1940s, Prince William Reliquary. Manassas VA: Apr 2002. Vol. 1 Iss. 2; Jul 2002. Vol. 1 Iss. 3; Jan 2003. Vol. 2 Iss. 1; Apr 2003. Vol. 2 Iss. 2; Jul 2003. Vol. 2 Iss. 3; Oct 2003. Vol. 2 Iss. 4.
- 1941-1949 Poll Tax List, 1941-49, Dumfries & Quantico, Prince William Reliquary. Manassas VA: Oct 2002. Vol. 1 Iss. 4.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Civil officials began recording births in 1853. They have been indexed multiple times:
- 1853-1896 Prince William County Birth Records 1853-1896, Prince William County Virginia website, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- 1853-1866 Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-1877 Fridley, Beth. Prince William County, Virginia Births, 1853-77. Database at Ancestry ($).
- 1878-1896 Fridley, Beth. Prince William County, Virginia Births, 1878-96. Database at Ancestry ($).
- 1912-1913 Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
There there are a variety of other types of records that may reveal births, including:
- 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Birth Records of Prince William County, Virginia (From Various Sources except the Official Register), available online through Prince William Public Library, Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
- 1731-1930 Prince William County Marriages, 1731-1930, from Sources Other than the Official Marriage Registers, available online through Prince William Public Library, Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC).
- 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 ($)
- 1853-1938 Prince William County Virginia Marriages 1853-1938, Prince William County Virginia website, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1854-1861 Ossman, Starr. "Prince William County Marriage Records, 1854-1861," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 9, No. 12 (Jun. 1991):92-93; Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jul. 1991):6-7; Vol. 10, No. 2 (Aug. 1991):14-15; Vol. 10, No. 4 (Oct. 1991):28-30; Vol. 10, No. 5 (Nov. 1991):38-39; Vol. 10, No. 6 (Dec. 1991):46-47; Vol. 10, No. 7 (Jan. 1992):53-55; Vol. 10, No. 8 (Feb. 1992):62-63; Vol. 10, No. 9 (Mar. 1992):68-69. FHL Collection. Taken from the Virginia Department of Vital Records in Richmond. The local copy stored at the courthouse was lost during the Civil War.
- 1854-1938 Prince William County Virginia African American Marriages 1854-1938, Prince William County Virginia website, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- 1936-1988 Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1938-1943 Prince William County Marriages, 1938-1943, from the Official Marriage Registers, available online through Prince William Public Library, Historical Digital Repository.
- "Prince William County African American Marriages From Sources Outside the County." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- "Prince William Marriages From Sources Outside the County." Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner. FHL Collection. Marriages of Prince William County residents drawn from Fauquier, Loudoun, Stafford, Culpeper, and Fairfax counties; and the cities of Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia.
Death[edit | edit source]
- Deaths are online in the Library of Virginia's Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, sponsored by Virginia Genealogical Society.
- Pre-1912 Index to Death Records of Prince William County, Virginia Prior to 1912, available online: Prince William Public Library System, Historical Digital Repository.
- 1853-1896 Prince William County, Virginia Deaths, 1853-96. Database at Ancestry ($).
- 1853-1896 Prince William County Virginia Death Records 1853-1896. Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- 1912-1987 Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1912-1917 Prince William County Virginia Death Records 1912-1917. Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
There are a variety of other types of records that may reveal deaths, including: When British merchants returned to collect unpaid accounts in Prince William County, Virginia after the Revolution, these records, which are now housed in The National Archives in Kew, England were created. The merchants' records identify individuals who had accounts and reveal if the person had died in the interval (1770s-early 1800s) or migrated to another part of the country. Americans of all social levels were interested in purchasing British imported goods through debt financing, making these records a valuable genealogical source. RELIC has created an online index:
- "British Mercantile Claims, 1775-1803 Indexed from The Virginia Genealogist, Vols. 8, 9, 14, 15, 20, 21, 23 and 24," available online through Prince William Public Library, (RELIC). This index serves as a very useful guide to help researchers find the original abstracts in The Virginia Genealogist. These issues of The Virginia Genealogist are accessible online through American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).
- 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 Prince William 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
- Annandale Virginia Family History Center
- Centreville Virginia Family History Center
- Oakton Virginia Family History Center
- Warrenton Virginia Family History Center
- Woodbridge Virginia Family History Center
- Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County 'AHHA' - an affiliate library
- Bull Run Regional Library-Ruth E Lloyd Information Center - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Prince William County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.
The following list was taken from "Prince William County Genealogy: A Guide to Sources," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 7, No. 8 (Feb. 1989):34-35. Available at FHL.
- Prince William County Genealogical Society, Manassas, Virginia
- Prince William County Historical Commission, Woodbridge, Virginia
- Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC), Central Library. Contains a wealth of genealogical material, including online records.
- Manassas Historical Committee/Manassas Museum, Manassas, Virginia
- Historic Dumfries Inc./Weems-Botts Museum, Dumfries, Virginia
- Historic Occoquan/Mill House Museum, Occoquan, Virginia
- Prince William Library, Virginiana Collection, Manassas, Virginia
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Prince William 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]
Compiled genealogies are a good place to start research for this area, see Prince William County, Virginia Genealogy. If you are researching families who lived in Prince William County, Virginia between the 1740s and 1790s, the Sparacios' book indexes are a great time saver. Surname index of Antient Press publications
- "Letter from Phil D. Dawe - Prince William County records moved during War of 1812". Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.
- "Prince William County Genealogy," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 2, No. 10 (Apr. 1984). FHL Collection
- "Prince William County Genealogy: A Guide to Sources," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 7, No. 8 (Feb. 1989):34-35. FHL Collection
- Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County Genealogy," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Mar.-Apr. 1984):1. FHL Collection; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.
- Wilson, Donald L. "Prince William County Manuscripts at the University of Virginia," The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 5, No. 5 (Nov. 1986):9; Vol. 5, No. 6 (Dec. 1986):7. FHL Collection
- Wilson, Donald L. "RELIC: A Gateway to Virginia Genealogy and History," The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 28, No. 5 (Oct. 2001):1-3. FHL Collection; digital version at Virginia Genealogical Society website.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ PWC 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.
- ↑ Lost Records Localities: Counties and Cities with Missing Records, 3, in Library of Virginia (accessed 4 April 2014).
- ↑ Newberry
- ↑ 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, "Prince William_ County,_Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_William_County,_Virginia#Communities accessed 25 February 2020.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 180. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ John E. Divine, 8th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, c1983). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 6.
- ↑ Lee A. Wallace, 17th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1990). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 67.
- ↑ Richard B. Kleese, 49th Virginia Infantry (Appomattox, Va.: H.E. Howard, 2002). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 138.
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services,[www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va004.htm Civil War Battle Summaries by State], (accessed 2 August 2012)
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 2 August 2012).
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 2 August 2012).
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 7 August 2012).
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 2 August 2012).
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 16 August 2012).
- ↑ Heritage Preservation Services, Civil War Battle Summaries by State, (accessed 16 August, 2012)
- ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 "Letter from Jim W. Tackitt, CGRS to Mark Bateman, Editor, 29 April 1984," published in The Newsletter of the Prince William County Genealogical Society, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jul. 1984), FHL 975.52732 D25n v. 1-3.