Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy

United States

Virginia

Cumberland County

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

Cumberland County, Virginia
Map
Location in the state of Virginia
Location of Virginia in the U.S.
Facts
Founded	1748
County Seat	Cumberland
Courthouse

County Information

Description

Cumberland County is located in the Central portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, second son of King George II of Great Britain.

Cumberland County Virginia Courthouse

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1853	1749	1853	1749	1749	1749	1810
Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1912. General compliance year is unknown.

Cumberland County Courthouse
P.O. Box 8
1 Courthouse Circle
Cumberland, VA 23040-0008
Phone: 804-492-4442

Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, probate
and court records from 1749, birth and death records
1853-1870

Cumberland County Virginia History

Parent County

1748--Cumberland County was created in 1748 from Goochland County.
County seat: Cumberland

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

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

• Lost census: 1790, 1800, 1890

Cumberland County Virginia Places/Localities

Populated Places

Cumberland County Virginia Genealogy Resources

Research Guides

• "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Cumberland County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1964):122-124. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors ($).

African American

• Freedmen's Bureau Letters or Correspondence, 1865-1872
• Heinegg, Paul. "Cumberland County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1816," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]

Bible Records

Images of the Virginia Historical Society's family Bible collection have been digitized:

• Virginia Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007.

Cemeteries

Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	List of Cemeteries in the county
Findagrave.com	Family History Library	Findagrave.com
VAGenWeb	WorldCat	Billion Graves
VAGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Project
Virginia Gravestones
Billion Graves
See Virginia Cemeteries for more information.

• 1800-1986 - Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — index

Census

For tips on accessing Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy census records online, see: Virginia Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	8,153		—
1800	9,839		20.7%
1810	9,992		1.6%
1820	11,023		10.3%
1830	11,690		6.1%
1840	10,399		−11.0%
1850	9,751		−6.2%
1860	9,961		2.2%
1870	8,142		−18.3%
1880	10,540		29.5%
1890	9,482		−10.0%
1900	8,996		−5.1%
1910	9,195		2.2%
1920	9,111		−0.9%
1930	7,535		−17.3%
1940	7,505		−0.4%
1950	7,252		−3.4%
1960	6,360		−12.3%
1970	6,179		−2.8%
1980	7,881		27.5%
1990	7,825		−0.7%
2000	9,017		15.2%

1782 Enumeration

• Cumberland County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 15.

1784 Enumeration

• Cumberland County Heads of Families - 1784 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 67.

1890 Union Veterans

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

Church Records

Baptist

The 10,000 name petition (dated 16 October 1776) has been digitized at the Library of Congress website. It was signed by people from all over Virginia who wanted an end to persecution of Baptists by the Established Church. Baptists and Baptist sympathizers alike signed the petition. To find your ancestor in this record, first check Hall's transcription in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (Vols. 35-38, with annotations in Vol. 39), which is available online at Ancestry ($). It is also available in book form at the Family History Library: FHL Book 975.5 B2vs v. 35-39. Then proceed to the Library of Congress website to see the original images.

Church of England

See also King William Parish
See also Littleton Parish
See also St. James Southam Parish

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

Quaker

Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):

• Fine Creek Monthly Meeting (1756-1775)

Court

Indexed images of Cumberland County, Virginia Chancery Records 1750-1912 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 150 genealogies have been published about Cumberland County families. To view a list, visit Cumberland County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies.

Immigration

• Ljungstedt, Milnor. "Items from Southern Records" [Showing Family and Trade Connections with Northern Colonies and the Home Countries], The American Genealogist, Vol. 15 (1938):95-104. Available at American Ancestors ($). [Cumberland Co., VA surname: Thompson.]

• List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Brunswick County are online at: Immigrant Servants Database.

During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 3 British aliens, some of whom had families, living in Cartersville and Cumberland County.

Land and Property

Grants and Patents

Land patents (pre-1779), land grants (after 1779) and surveys are available online at the Library of Virginia website. For step-by-step instructions on retrieving these records, read the Virginia Land and Property article.

• Bannister. 405 patents dated 1714-1835 in what is now Cumberland County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2004. [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

Maps

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

• Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1976):199-208; Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1977):167-171. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Cumberland County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on 20:34; 1789 Delinquent List appears on 21:168.]

Military

French and Indian War

• Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FHL. [Identifies some Cumberland 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. Available at FHL; 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 Cumblernad County, see p. 70.]
• Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FHL US/CAN Book 975.5 M2c; digital book at Ancestry ($); Google Books; and Archive.org. [Identifies some Cumberland County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.]

Revolutionary War

Regiments. Service men in Cumberland County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Cumberland County supplied soldiers for the:

- 7th Virginia Regiment

- 10th Virginia Regiment

Additional resources:

• McIlwaine, H.R. Proceedings of the Committees of Safety of Cumberland and Isle of Wight Counties, Virginia, 1775-1776. Richmond: D. Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing, 1919. Available at FHL; digital versions at Ancestry ($), FamilySearch Books Online, and Google Books.
• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census]. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Cumberland County on page 130.]
• Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions, With an Added Index to States. FHL Collection 973 M24ur; Collection with index and images at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Virginia section begins on page 238.]
• Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. By J.T. McAllister. 1913. Hot Springs, Va.: McAllister Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive

War of 1812

Cumberland County men served in the 17th Regiment.

• 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. FHL Collection 975.5 M2djL. [Includes Cumberland 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. FHL Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5; digital versions at Google Books and Internet Archive. [See Vol. 5, Virginia, Cumberland County, p. 69.]

Civil War

Regiments. Service men in Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy 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 in Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy:

- 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G (Cumberland Light Dragoons).

- 18th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Black Eagle Rifles) and Company F (Farmville Guard).

- 21st Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Cumberland Greys).

- 44th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G (Randolph Guard).

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)

Civil War Battle

The following Civil War battles were fought in Cumberland County.

• April 7, 1865 = Cumberland Church, also known as Farmville
• April 6-7, 1865 = High Bridge

Maps of Civil War battles in Virginia: 1861 and 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Miscellaneous Records

• 1607-2007 - Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization

• Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929

Newspapers

The Virginia Newspapers Project identifies local Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy newspapers.

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.

Probate Records

A free index to Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy wills and administrations (1749-1810) is available at the Library of Virginia.

Online Probate Records

• 1639 – 1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry.com — index to transcribed records, incomplete, $
• 1759 – 1769; 1769 – 1792 – Images of Wills, Estates, Inventories etc. Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1749 – 1769; 1769 – 1792 – Images of Wills. Virginia Pioneers ($)

"

Taxation

How can Virginia tax lists help me?

• [1759] McCrary, Patti Sue. Cumberland County, Virginia Tithable Lists for 1759. Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2007. Available at FHL.
• 1764-1792 - Crouse, Randy F. McNew "Personal Property Tax Lists of Buckingham County Virginia , Vol. 1, 1764-1792, Randy F. McNew Crouse 2017. 428 pages. Available at Lulu ($) and FHL. Family History Library Call Number: 975.5623 R4c. In 1778, a small triangular area of Buckingham county bordering the James River was given to Cumberland county. Buckingham residents living there then, and following the division of the county, became residents of Cumberland county. In addition, owing to the proximity of the two counties, many families that lived in Buckingham also owned property and/or had relatives in Cumberland and vice-versa, or they were former residents of the other. This book is a comprehensive transcription of all extant tithe and personal property tax lists (over 12,000 records) for Buckingham County, Virginia from its formation in 1761 through 1792. Includes 1764, 1773-4, 1782-1792.
• [1782-1816] Cumberland County Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1816 (images); digital version in Tax List Club at Binns Genealogy ($).
• [1782-1815] Tax Digests available at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• [1782-1816] Heinegg, Paul. "Cumberland County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1816," Free African Americans.com, available online. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.]
• [1783] - Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
• [1787] Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Online at FamilySearch - free; FHL. [The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Cumberland County is included in Vol. 1.]
• [1788-1789] Clay, Robert Y. "Some Delinquent Taxpayers 1787-1790," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1976):199-208; Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1977):167-171. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors ($). [These records often identify migrants who left the county and their intended destinations. Cumberland County's 1788 Delinquent List appears on 20:34; 1789 Delinquent List appears on 21:168.]
• [1791, 1800] Indexed images of the 1791 and 1800 Personal Property Tax Lists of Cumberland County, Virginia are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
• [1800] "Cumberland County, Virginia, 1800 Tax List," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1973):197-200; Vol. 17, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1973):249-252. Available at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors($).
• [1804] Morton, W.S. Cumberland County Poll List [1804], excerpted from "Cumberland County Records," William and Mary College Quarterly, 2nd Series, Vol. 22 (1942):61-64. Available at FHL; reprinted in Virginia Tax Records. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983, which is also available at FHL; digital version at JSTOR ($).
• [1815] Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FHL. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Cumberland County is included in Vol. 1.]

Vital Records

Indexes to Cumberland County, Virginia Genealogy births, marriages, and deaths are available online. These collections are incomplete, but are easy to search. Most records can also be ordered electronically online as well. Courtesy: FamilySearch. See also How to order Virginia Vital Records

Birth

• 1912-1913 - Virginia, Birth Certificates, 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) ($).
• 1749-1791 - Cumberland Marriages (VAGenWeb)
• 1749-1840 - Elliott, Katherine B.. Marriage Records, 1749-1840, Cumberland County, Virginia. South Hill, Va., 1969.
• 1936-1988 - Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce

• 1918-1988 - Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

• 1912-1987 - Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — index and images

Vital Record Substitutes

The Virginia Historical Society's Marriage and Obituary Index, 1736-1820 (newspaper abstracts) is available at FamilySearch. Images of the original index cards are browseable, arranged alphabetically by surname.

Cumberland County Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries

• The Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia

Family History Centers

Family history centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes. See family history center for more information. Search the online FHC directory for a nearby family history center.

Cumberland County Virginia Genealogy Websites

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

Cumberland County Virginia Genealogy References