Greene County, Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Greene County Virginia ancestry, family history, and genealogy. birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, immigration records, and military records.
Greene County, Virginia | |
Map | |
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![]() Location in the state of Virginia | |
![]() Location of Virginia in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | 1838 |
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County Seat | Stanardsville |
Courthouse | |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 Greene County Virginia History
- 3 Greene County Virginia Places/Localities
- 4 Greene County Virginia Genealogy Resources
- 5 Greene County Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries
- 6 Greene County Virginia Genealogy Websites
- 7 Greene County Virginia Genealogy References
County Information
Description
Greene County is located in the Central portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was named in honor of Nathanael Greene who gained fame in the Revolutionary War as second-in-command to General George Washington[1].
Greene County Virginia Courthouse
Greene County Courthouse
P.O. Box 386
Standardsville, VA 22973-0386
Phone 434-985-5208
Clerk Circuit Court has birth records 1853-1896
and 1912-1919, death records 1838-1860
marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1838[2]
| |||||
Birth | Marriage | Death | Census | Land | Probate |
1853 | 1838 | 1853 | 1840 | 1835 | 1839 |
Greene County Virginia History
The county is named after Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786).
Parent County
1838--Greene County was created 24 January 1838 from Orange County.
County seat: Stanardsville [2]
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
During the American Civil War the county's Deed Book 1, 1838-1841 was lost. A courthouse fire on 24 October 1979 left some court records with water damage.[3]
- Lost census: 1890
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
- Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki.
- Arlene Eakle, When the Records are Gone in the Tennessee Genealogy Blog.
- Michael John Neill, Burned Counties in Family History Circle.
Greene County Virginia Places/Localities
Populated Places
Greene County Virginia Genealogy Resources
Research Guides
- Dorman, John Frederick. "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Greene County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1968):106-107. Digital version at FHL; digital version at American Ancestors ($).
Bible Records
Images of the Virginia Historical Society's family Bible collection have been digitized:
- Virginia Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 - browse collection at FamilySearch; free.
Additional Bible records include:
Cemeteries
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
VA Gravestones | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
VAGenWeb Archives | ||
Tombstone Project | ||
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 Greene County, Virginia Genealogy census records online, see: Virginia Census.
Historical populations | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 4,232 | ||
1850 | 4,400 | 4.0% | |
1860 | 5,022 | 14.1% | |
1870 | 4,634 | −7.7% | |
1880 | 5,830 | 25.8% | |
1890 | 5,622 | −3.6% | |
1900 | 6,214 | 10.5% | |
1910 | 6,937 | 11.6% | |
1920 | 6,369 | −8.2% | |
1930 | 5,980 | −6.1% | |
1940 | 5,218 | −12.7% | |
1950 | 4,745 | −9.1% | |
1960 | 4,715 | −0.6% | |
1970 | 5,248 | 11.3% | |
1980 | 7,625 | 45.3% | |
1990 | 10,297 | 35.0% | |
2000 | 15,244 | 48.0% |
Church Records
Court
Genealogy
Several genealogies have been published about Greene County families. To view a list, visit Greene County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies.
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.
- Hudgins. 13 patents dated 1722-1761 in what is now Greene County, 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); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]
Local Histories
Maps
Military
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 versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books et. al. 1967 reprint: FHL Collection 973 X2pc 1840. [See Virginia, Eastern District, Greene County on pages 130-131.]
War of 1812
- 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 Greene 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, Greene County, p. 82. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.]
Civil War
- 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)
Regiments. Service men in Greene 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 Greene County, Virginia Genealogy:
- - 7th Battalion, Virginia Infantry, Local Defense (1st Nitre Battalion) (Confederate). Company F.[4]
- - 34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Greene Rough and Readys) and Company K (King and Queen Artillery).[5]
Miscellaneous Records
- 1607-2007 - Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images
Newspapers
The Virginia Newspapers Project identifies local Greene County, Virginia Genealogy newspapers.
- 2011-present - Greene County Record (Stanardsville, Va.) at Genealogy Bank ($).
Probate Records
Online Probate Records
- Images of Wills, Estates, Deeds, Bonds 1838-1860; 1860-1925. Virginia Pioneers ($)
- Images of WIlls, Estates, Deeds, Bonds in the Circuit Court 1842-1891. Virginia Pioneers ($)
Taxation
Vital Records
Indexes to Greene 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 - free. See also How to order Virginia Vital Records
Birth
Beth Fridley has published abstracts of Greene County, Virginia birth records online at Ancestry:
- Greene County, Virginia Births, 1853-1871 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
- Greene County, Virginia Births, 1872-1878 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
- Greene County, Virginia Births, 1879-1887 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
- Greene County, Virginia Births, 1888-1896 [database on-line]. Available at Ancestry ($).
- 1912-1913 - Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — index and images
Marriage
- 1660-1959 - Virginia, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1740-1850 - Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 (Ancestry) ($).
- 1851-1900 - Virginia Marriages 1851-1900 (Ancestry) ($).
- 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
For birth, marriage, and death record substitutes, see Bible Records, Cemeteries, Church Records, Newspapers, and Probate Records. |
Greene County Virginia Genealogy Societies and Libraries
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.
Greene County Virginia Genealogy Websites
- VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Greene County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (Familytree101)
- Cyndi's List
Greene County Virginia Genealogy References
- ↑ http://www.greenecountyva.gov/about-greene
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Greene County, Virginia. Page 714 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Lost Records Localities: Counties and Cities with Missing Records, 5, in Library of Virginia (accessed 4 April 2014).
- ↑ David F. Riggs, 7th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1982). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 3.
- ↑ Johnny L. Scott, 34th Virginia Infantry (Appomattox, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1999). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 135.
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/images/3/37/Igivirginia.pdf.