Campbell County, Virginia Genealogy

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

Description
Campbell County is located in the Piedmont area of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named for General William Campbell, the Revolutionary War hero famous for his leadership in defeating the Tories and Loyalists at the Battle of King’s Mountain in the Carolinas.

Campbell County Virginia Courthouse
Campbell County Courts P.O. Box 7 732 Village Highway Rustburg, VA 24588-0007 Phone: (434) 592-9517 Clerk Circuit Court has birth and death records 1912-1918 marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1782

Parent County
1781--Campbell County was created 5 November 1781 from Bedford County. County seat: Rustburg

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss

 * Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1890

Research Guides

 * "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Campbell County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1962):176-179. Available at ; digital version at American Ancestors($).

African American
In 1860, Campbell County had one of the largest slave populations in the state (11,580 slaves). Ten years later in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (14,343) - the town of Lynchburg in particular.


 * Freedmen's
 * Heinegg, Paul. "Campbell County Personal Property Tax List 1785-1814," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Cemeteries

 * 1800-1986 - at FamilySearch — index

For a detailed list, including addresses, phone numbers, and external links, see Campbell County, Virginia Cemeteries.

The following is a list of cemeteries in Campbell County:

Census
1890 Union Veterans


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

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):


 * 1) Burton's Creek (1806)
 * 2) Ebenezer 
 * 3) Lower Falling (1792)
 * 4) New Chapel
 * 5) Seneca 

Campbell County fell within the bounds of the Appomattox Association, the Roanoke Association, and the Strawberry Association.

Church of England
See also Russell Parish

Meade's 1861 history of parishes in Campbell County is available online.

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):


 * Hill's Creek Monthly Meeting (1778-1803)
 * Seneca Monthly Meeting (1781-1810)
 * South River Monthly Meeting, Lynchburg, Va. (1757-1839). The original records have been microfilmed: . In 1905, Bell published the early records, which are now available online for free at - free and Google Books - free. Wright also published early records (1756-1800): . Hinshaw also published the early records:.


 * (64+ entries)


 * Brown, Jane Douglas Summers and Jones Memorial Library. Jane Douglas Summers Brown (1903-) Quaker Records: Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Virginia); MS 1515. MSS, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va. Available on 26 microfilms at . [Includes records of Campbell County Quakers; Brown assisted "William Wade Hinshaw in the writing of the Virginia volume of the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy."]

Court
Chancery Court


 * Indexes (1793-1946) and images (1793-1914) to Campbell County, Virginia Chancery Records are available online through Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index. These records, often concerned with inheritance disputes, contain a wealth of genealogical information.

Genealogy
More than 175 genealogies have been published about Campbell County families. To view a list, visit Campbell County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies.

Immigration

 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will a of resident of Lynchburg proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 11 British aliens, many of whom had families, living in Lynchburg, Campbell County.

Land and Property
Grants and Patents


 * Hudgins et al. 795 patents dated 1736-1902 in what is now Campbell County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2010. [Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]

Local Histories

 * Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches: Embracing the History of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1926. 1927. By Ruth Hairston Early. Lynchburg, VA : J.P. Bell Co. Online at: FamilySearch Books, Ancestry ($).
 * "Index to Mrs. Cabell's Sketches and Recollections of Lynchburg", Bulletin of the Virginia State Library, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Jul. 1920):35-45. Digital version at - free.
 * Lest It Be Forgotten : A Scrapbook of Campbell County, Virginia. 1976. By Historical Committee of the Bicentennial Commission of Campbell County, Virginia. Altavista, VA : Altavista Printing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Books.

Migration

 * Elliott, Katherine B. Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 2 vols. South Hill, Virginia: K.B. Elliott, 1966. Vol. 1 of original edition available at ; 1983 reprints (both volumes) available at ; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also available at . [Includes individuals who migrated out of Campbell County to other parts of the country.]

French and Indian War

 * Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at . [Identifies a Campbell County veteran; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War

 * Chilton, Harriett A. "Revolutionary War Soldiers from Campbell County, Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1976):297-298. Available at ; digital version at New England Ancestors($).
 * Morton, W.S. "A List of Soldiers Who Made Declaration of Service in Revolutionary War," [Campbell Co., VA] The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan. 1962):79. Available at JSTOR ($).
 * 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 versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Campbell County on page 129.]
 * 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 from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]

War of 1812
Campbell County men served in the 53rd and 117th Regiments.


 * Douthat, James L. Roster of War of 1812, Southside, Virginia. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2007. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. 975.5 M2djL. [Includes Campbell County.]
 * 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, Campbell County, pp. 65-66.]

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Virginia Artillery (Confederate). Company C (1st) (Lynchburg Beauregard Rifles Artillery)
 * - 2nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B (Wise Troop), Company C (Botetourt Dragoons), Company I (Campbell Rangers)
 * - 11th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate).
 * - 28th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Clifton Grays).
 * - 34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company C (Davis Artillery).
 * - 42nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Campbell-Lee Guards) and Company I (Campbell Guards).

Records and histories are available, including:


 * 1861-1865 - Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers 1861-1865
 * 1861-1865 - Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers 1861-1865
 * 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)

Miscellaneous Records

 * 1607-2007 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization

 * Virginia

Newspapers
Jones Memorial Library has a free online obituary index to many local newspapers. They also have a great collection of newspapers accessible in their facility.

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.


 * 1794-1836 - Marriages and Deaths from Lynchburg, Virginia Newspapers, 1794-1836 (Ancestry) ($).


 * 1797-1798 - Lynchburg Weekly Museum at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1798-1799 - Lynchburg Weekly Gazette at Genealogy Bank ($).


 * 1809-1818 - Lynchburg Press at Genealogy Bank ($).

Occupations

 * Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. Available at . [Includes a section on Lynchburg silversmiths.]

Probate Records
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. 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.

London Courts


 * Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. [Includes will a of resident of Lynchburg proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.]

Online Probate Records
 * 1639 – 1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry.com — index to transcribed records, $
 * 1782-1810 Images of Wills Virginia Pioneers ($)

Taxation
How can Virginia tax lists help me?

Bibliography


 * 1783 - Land Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
 * 1785 - 1785 Campbell County, Virginia Personal Property Tax list; index online at New River Notes - free.
 * 1785-1814 Campbell County Personal Property Tax Lists 1785-1814 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
 * 1785 - Fothergill, Augusta B. and John Mark Naugle. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. 1940; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978. Online at FamilySearch - free; FHL. 1785 personal property tax list of Campbell County.
 * 1785-1814 - Heinegg, Paul. "Campbell County Personal Property Tax List 1785-1814," Free African Americans.com, available online. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
 * 1787 - Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 &amp; 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 &amp; Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle &amp; Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Online at FamilySearch - free; . The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Campbell County is included in Vol. 1.
 * 1791, 1800 - Indexed images of the 1791 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Campbell County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
 * 1800 - "Campbell County, Virginia, 1800 Tax List," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1969):61-64; Vol. 13, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1969):106-110; Vol. 13, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1969):159-162. Available at ; digital version at New England Ancestors($).
 * 1815 - Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at . The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Campbell County is included in Vol. 2.

Birth

 * 1912-1913 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage

 * 1660-1800 - Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 (Ancestry) ($).


 * 1660-1959 - Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1740-1850 - Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 (Ancestry) ($).


 * 1781-1854 - Ricks, Joel. Campbell County, Virginia Marriage Bonds 1781-1854. 1936. Digital version at - free.


 * 1782-1800 - Marriage Bonds Virginia Pioneers ($)


 * 1782-1810 - Baber, Lucy Harrison Miller. Marriages of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1810. Lynchburg, Virginia: L.H.M. Baber and H.L. Williamson, c1971. Available at ; digital version of 1980 edition at Ancestry ($).


 * 1782-1936 - Campbell County Marriage Index 1782-1936. Batch at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1812-1828 - Marriages Virginia Pioneers ($)


 * 1936-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce

 * 1918-1988 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1812-1828 Deaths Virginia Pioneers ($)
 * 1912-1987 - at FamilySearch — index and images

See also Newspapers

The website of Jones Memorial Library includes a free online index to records of several local twentieth century funeral homes.

Campbell County Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * Central Virginia Genealogical Association

Campbell County Virginia Genealogy Websites

 * Campbell Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
 * Campbell County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
 * Cyndi's List
 * Cyndi's List