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Do you have early Virginia roots? This record set may help. It is called the Virginia Colonial Index. Some people also refer to it as Colonial Virginia Source Records. It lists more than 353,000 people from the 1600s and 1700s.
These records come from a time before the first U.S. census. They help fill in the blanks.
The set has many types of records. It includes court papers, tax records, military service records, land deals, marriage records, and newspapers. These records do more than give names. They show how people lived and who they knew.
One helpful part is the Virginia Tax List from 1782 to 1787. It shows where people lived right after the Revolutionary War. This was before official census records were kept.
There are also early Quaker records. These are some of the oldest church papers in Virginia. They often name whole families. They also help track people who moved between places.
Some records list African American names. These come from old newspapers. They include ads for runaways, freed people, and estate sales. These are rare. They may help fill in family gaps.
If you are searching for early Virginia family members, try these other books too:
Additional Resources
- Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources
- Virginia Wills Before 1799: A Complete Abstract Register of All Names Mentioned in Over 600 Recorded Wills
- Virginia Court Records in Southwestern Pennsylvania: Records of the District of West Augusta and Ohio and Yohogania Counties, Virginia, 1775-1780
- Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by The United States Census Bureau
- Genealogical Abstracts from 18th-Century Virginia Newspapers
- Historical Collections of Virginia
- Index to Obituary Notices In The ‘Richmond Enquirer’ From May 9, 1804, Through 1828, And The ‘Richmond Whig’ From January 1824 Through 1838
- Virginia Wills and Administrations, 1632-1800
- Early Quaker Records in Virginia
- Marriages of Some Virginia Residents, 1607-1800
These records tell more than facts. They give you a glimpse into everyday life. You can learn about land, family, jobs, and more.
If your family lived in Virginia in the past, this collection is a great place to start.