Northumberland

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

1789-1825

Images of Guardian Accounts

1788-1824

Indexes to Wills, Inventories, Deeds

1753-1756
1756-1768
1758-1762
1762-1766

Indexes to Fiduciary Accounts

1749-1950

Miscellaneous

1765 Poll

Marriages

to 1699
1735 to 1795
Bonds 1788 to 1817

School Commission Reports

1823 to 1833
1833 to 1837

Road Papers

1839 to 1892

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!

Littleton

Neale

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.