Pulaski County, Virginia Genealogy

Guide to Pulaski County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
Pulaski County is located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named in honor of Count Casimir Pulaski, an exiled Polish nobleman, who came to the colonies in 1777 to join Washington's army.

County Courthouse
Pulaski County Courthouse 45 Third Street, NW #101 Pulaski, VA 24301 Phone: 540-980-7825 Pulaski County Website Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1882,< divorce, probate, court and land records from 1839

Populated Places
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:

History Timeline


The county is named after General Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779), a Polish nobleman who died fighting for the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War.

Bible Records

 * 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Census Records
1840
 * Douthat, James L. 1840 Mountain Empire of Virginia Census. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2001. 975.5 X2d 1840. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. [Includes Pulaski County.]

1890 Union Veterans
 * "Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890."  Prince William County Virginia, by Ronald Ray Turner.   Includes residents of this county.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Presbyterian


 * 1854-1875 - Drapers Valley Presbyterian Christenings 1854-1875. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records Library of Virginia's Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index can be used to search digital images of Pulaski County chancery records for the years 1841-1913.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African American
 * 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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. Available at.
 * Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Pulaski County.

Funeral Homes

 * 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Genealogies
Compiled Genealogies by Surname
 * See Pulaski County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles.

Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families
 * Heavener, Ulysses S.A. German New River Settlement: Virginia. 1929; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976..
 * Kegley, Mary B. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters. 5 vols. 1990-1998..

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records An early settlers map is available for Pulaski County. The cartographer plots the locations of pioneers from 1776-1976. The Family History Library has a copy:.

Grants and Patents
 * Hudgins. 575 patents dated 1746-1887 in what is now Pulaski County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper. 2009. [Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]

Local Histories

 * Pulaski County, Virginia: A Historic and Descriptive Sketch Designed to Show Forth the Natural Advantages, Resources and General Adaptability of the Banner County of Southwest Virginia, to Agriculture, Cattle Raising, and also Commercial and Industrial Enterprises. Pulaski, Va.: Southwest Pub. Co., 1907. Availale at FHL; digital version at Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1776-1976 Settlement Map of Pulaski County, Virginia. Available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this couinty - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Revolutionary War War of 1812 Civil 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: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Western District, Pulaski County on page 136.]
 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." ; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans. Virginia section begins on page 238.
 * List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Pulaski County, p. 100. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 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 Pulaski 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 C (Pulaski Guards).
 * - 24th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Pulaski Guards).
 * - 50th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company I.
 * - 54th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F.
 * - Dublin Provost Guard (Confederate)(Information about this Pulaski County Guard can be found on page 275 of the preceding reference 1.)

Civil War Battle The following Civil War battle was fought in Pulaski County.
 * May 9, 1864 Cloyd's Mountain
 * Maps of Civil War battles in Virginia: 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Private Papers

 * 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1838-1859 Pulaski County Wills 1838-1859 (New River Notes) - free.
 * 1840-1859 Images of Wills, Guardianships, Inventories, Estates Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1859-1871 Images of Wills, Guardianships, Inventories, Estates Virginia Pioneers ($)

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 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
Bibliography


 * [1839] Personal Property Tax List, 1839, Virginia Appalachian Notes Vol. 7, No. 1 (Feb. 1983), pp. 1-7; online at Roanoke Public Library - free.

Birth

 * 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1853-1893 Fridley, Beth. Pulaski County, Virginia Births, 1853-93 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Available at Ancestry ($).
 * 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Marriage

 * 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index, ($) — index $
 * 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1838-1845 Pulaski County Marriages 1838-1845 (New River Notes) - free.
 * 1851-1900 Virginia Marriages 1851-1900 (Ancestry) ($).
 * 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;  index & images

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 - at FamilySearch — index & images

Family History Centers

 * Pembroke Virginia Family History Center
 * Roanoke Virginia Family History Center


 * Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library - Blacksburg - an affiliate library
 * Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library - Christiansburg - an affiliate library
 * Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library - Meadowbrook - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Pulaski Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.


 * – 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

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Pulaski County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1977):122-123. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).