Northumberland County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Marriages, Indexes to Deeds and Orders
Northumberland County was formed about 1645, although not authorized until 1648, from the district of Chickacoan, the early-seventeenth-century name for the region between the Potomac and the Rappahannock rivers. Its area is 223 square miles, and the county seat is Heathsville. The population is 12,259 according to the 2000 census. The courthouse Suffered some loss in a fire in the clerk's office on 25 October 1710. Birth and Death Records from 1650-1810 are located in the St. Stephens Parish. There being no courthouse in Northumberland in 1658, the judges met in a house probably used as a public tavern. But it was not until five years later that the court-house construction was begun. Before that, the justices held their sessions at the residences of Colonels Richard Lee and Peter Ashton. The building was situated at Fairfield and was made of wood. Therefore, in 1680, it was necessary to build another one. Source: Northumberland County Records, vol. 1652-66, p. 188; Orders Nov. 22, 1658; March 11, 1680.
Images of Wills, Inventories, Deeds
- 1651-1658 (no index)
- 1706-1720
- 1710-1713
- 1718-1726
- 1726-1729
- 1738-1743
- 1743-1749
- 1747-1749
- 1749-1751
- 1770-1772
- 1772-1776
Images of Orders, Deeds, Wills
Images of Guardian Accounts
Indexes to Wills, Inventories, Deeds
- 1753-1756
- 1756-1768
- 1758-1762
- 1762-1766
Indexes to Fiduciary Accounts
Miscellaneous
Marriages
- to 1699
- 1735 to 1795
- Bonds 1788 to 1817
School Commission Reports
- 1823 to 1833
- 1833 to 1837
Road Papers
Index to Deeds and Orders
- Page 10; 40 to 80
- John Mattson deed
Transcriptions of Wills
- Harris, John
- Haynie, Anthony
- Jones, Robert
Traced genealogies and family histories of Northumberland County are available to Members!
The Rush to Build Towns in Colonial Virginia
Early colonial towns did not just pop up. In 1662, the following new towns were approved by the House of Burgesses to be constructed: Varina in Henrico, Fleur de Hundred in Charles City, Smith's Fort in Surry, Jamestown in James City, Patesville in Isle of Wight, Huff's Point in Nansemond, mouth of Deep Creek in Warwick, the Jervise Plantation in Elizabeth City, the Wise Plantation in Lower Norfolk, the Read Plantation in York, the Brick House in New Kent, Tyndall Point in Gloucester, the Wormsley Plantation in Middlesex, Hubb's Hole in Rappahannock, Pearce Point in Stafford, Calverts Neck in Accomac, the plantation of the Secretary located on Kings Creek in Northampton, Corotoman in Lancaster and Chickacony in Northumberland.
About Indentured Servants
To understand the status of Indentured Servants who were so numerous in the Virginia Colony and were such an important factor in the population of the Northern Neck, it is well to consider the meaning of the term. During the 17th century the word "servant" was not confined to one who was engaged in a menial task, instead broadly referred to anyone who, for compensation, rendered service to another (as was customary in all occupations) calling for especial training or instruction, to take on apprentices "bound to serve for a certain time in consideration of instruction in an art or trade." The apprentice was lodged and clothed by the master during the term and to give his labour and services in compensation for his support and instruction. The custom obtained not only in the various crafts and trades but even in the professions as well, lawyers and doctors taking students on similar terms.
|
