Princess Anne

Princess Anne County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Deeds, Poll Lists, Indexes to Probate Records

Note: When researching Princess Anne County for ancestors, Norfolk County should also be examined as the names between the two counties were frequently inter-changed with relatives. When Admiral Christopher Newport and the colonists of the Virginia Company arrived in 1607, George Percy and his fellow Englishmen’s first landing was at Cape Henry. They named the spot in honor of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I of England. It was this spot which later became Princess Anne County. A well-known planter was Adam Thoroughgood who settling along the Lynnhaven River. In 1634, the King of England directed the formation of eight shires (or counties) in the colony of Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth City Shire, which included land area on both sides of Hampton Roads. New Norfolk County was formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City Shire. New Norfolk County included all the area in South Hampton Roads now incorporated in the five independent cities located there in modern times. In 1637 this tract was divided into Upper Norfolk County and Lower Norfolk County. In 1691, Lower Norfolk County was in turn subdivided to form Norfolk County and Princess Anne County, which contained the area of Lynnhaven Parish. Princess Anne County was named for the heir to the English throne, who later became Queen Anne.

The following allowances were made in the levy of Princess Anne County for 1696 for the construction of a courthouse. A new jail was erected at the same time, and to some extent, the outlay for the two is given together in the entry quoted: ” To Timber for the frame of the courthouse and prison, 1000 lbs. Tobo.; Digging Post holes for the courthouse, 30 lbs. Tobo.; 2850 Boards for outside work, 1425 lbs. Tobo; Bringing above down, boating them; To Joseph Godacres loading and carting them, 500 lbs. Tobo.; Taking down the table, benches, and bar at the old Court house, bringing here and setting up 100 lbs. Tobo.; Taking up plank at old Court house, boat and hands bringing it to Court house and carting, 400 lbs. Tobo; 650 planks of Adam Keeling, 650 lbs. Tobo.; To a boat and hands 2 days fetching 400 feet of it to Godacres’ landing; One day carting it thence to Court house, 50 lbs. Tobo; One-day carting sleepers to the court house, 60 bs. Tobo; 6000 8d. Nails, 480 lbs. Tbo; 1000 10. nails, 100 lbs. Tobo; 1000 4d. nails, 45 lbs. Tobo; 500 20d. nails, 150 lbs. Tobo; 1500 Boards for inside @600 lbs. p. 1000, 900 lbs. Tobo; 2 bbl. of tar and bringing same, 300 lbs. Tobo; carting course house frame, 410 lbs. Tobo; To superintendence, 800 lbs. Tobo.” Sources: Princess Anne Order Book 1691-1709, p. 119.

First Settlers of Princess Anne County

Many of the first settlers to Princess Anne County acquired land patents or grants in Currituck County, North Carolina. John Legat, born ca 1650, of Currituck in the province of North Carolina deeded to David Legat of Lynnhaven Parish, Princess Anne County, in 1699, 100 acres of land for life. In 1692 Governor Francis Nicholson granted Adam Furgison 120 acres of land lying on the westward side of the North River Swamp in Princess Anne County adjoining lands of Beatcher and Thomas Tooley. While researching persons in Princess Anne County, one should also search Albemarle Sound in Outerbanks, North Carolina where many of the first settlers also owned land. List of Traced Virginia Families on this website

Images of Wills 1714-1724

Images of Wills 1724 to 1735

Images of Guardians of Orphans 1774-1777

Images of Wills 1747-1755

Images of Wills 1779-1780

Images of Deeds, Wills, Estates 1780-1782

Images of Wills 1782 to 1793

Images of Will Bk No. 1, 1783-1794 and Will Bk No. 2, 1795-1807; Will Bk 3, 1808-1834

Indexes to Wills, Deeds, Estates

Book No. 4, 1824 to 1871
General Index to Wills 1783-1941

Images of Deeds

1724-1735, Part. I & II; 1747-1755, Book 7; 1779 to 1780; 1780 to 1782; 1782 to 1780; 1783 to 1785; 1785 to 1788; 1788 to 1790; 1790 to 1792; 1792 to 1795; 1795 to 1798; 1798 to 1800; 1801 to 1803

Deeds, Orders, Wills, Estates

1691-1709, Books 1 and 2; 1702; 1709 to 1717; 1756 to 1776

Miscellaneous Land Patents, Deeds, Releases

1736 Beverley Patent (map of names)
Ackiss, William Lease and Release to John Murden, 1729
Ackis to Murden, indenture, 1729
Bassnett Power of Attorney to Jeremiah Murden, 1729
Berry, deed to Epa. Munden, 1764
Cason, Charles Land Grant, 1767
Cason,James Land Grant, 1724
Cason,James and Ann to John Fentriss, deeds, 1696
Cason,James, Land Grant, 1755
Cason,James, Power of Attorney, 1726
Cason,James, Power of Attorney, 1727
Cason,John, Indenture to Epa. Munden, 1750
Fentress Land Grant adj. J. Murden, 1766
Fentris Deed Release to Murden, 1712
Fentris, Moses and Aaron lease and release to George Fentris
Fentris, Michael deed to Hopkins, 1709
Hatton deed to Acquila Munden, 1744
Henley, Thomas deed to Thomas Cannon, 1765
Hopkins Land Patent adj. J. Murdin, 1703
Hopkins, John Land Grant adj. J. Murden, 1705
Ivy Lease and release to William Whitehurst; Sarah and Robert Murden, 1727
Iliff, Dinah deed to Robert Murden, 1714
Iliffe, Thomas to Richard Cook, transactions, 1696
Iliffe, Thomas transactions with Griffin, 1698
Jones, Robert Lease and Release to Epa. Munden, 1747
Moore, Cason, Land Grant, 1715
Moore, Cason, Land Grant, 1764
Moseley, Luke deed to John Mundon, 1721
Munden, Epa. deed to Chappels, 1765
Munden, Epa. and Mary, Release of Dower to Lovitt, 1753
Munden, Epaphroditus deed to John Ackis
Munden deed, 1785
Munden, John, deed to William Holmes, 1754
Munden, John, Lease to Moses Munden, 1765
Munden, John , deed to Lamont, 1742
Mundey, John, Power of attorney, 1730
Munden, John and James Harrison, Agreement, 1729
Munden, John and Frances deed to Moses Roberts
Munden, Stephen and Anne Lease to Thom Henley, 1741
Munden, Stephen to Brock indenture, 1739
Murden,John, Land Grant from William Worthington, 1755
Murden, John and Martha Lease to Bush, 1717
Murdon, Robert, 1757
Murdon, Robert, deed, 1763
Murden, Robert and Lovett, Indentures, 1724
Murden, Sarah, Land grant of 97 acres, 1727
Rutland, William deed to John Munden, 1720
Tucker Land Grant adj. John Mund, 1738
Walke Lease, Release to John Munden, 1728 Whitehurst, 1758
Woodhouse, Ruth, gift deeds to children, 1696

Miscellaneous Wills, Estates

Cason, James Sr., 1761
Dixson, Robert
Fentris, Aron, last will and testament (1738) and Moses
Fentris Deed of Gift Haynes, James, LWT, 1726,
Haynes, Enoch, LWT (1753) (transcription)
Henly, Charles, 1747
Holmes, William (transcription)
Keeling, Alexander, 1703
Iliff, Thomas, 1707/1708
Iliffe, Thomas, inventory of estate, 1712
Lovett, Lancaster, LWT, 1700
Mackie, William, LWT (1795) (transcription)
Mackey, Jonathan, LWT (1795) (transcription)
Murden, Jeremiah, LWT 1750
Munden, John, LWT and inventory of estate
Murden, Robert, inventory of estate, 1726

Minute Books

Minute Book 7, pages 25 to 26

Registered Marks

1718 Registered Marks
1723 Registered Marks

Maps

1886 Map

Miscellaneous Marriage Contracts

Cason, William to Mary Smith
Munden, John to Any Gornto

Indexes to Probate Records and Deeds

1724 to 1735; 1779 to 1780; 1782 to 1783; 1783; 1785; 1785 to 1788; 1788 to 1790; 1792 to 1795; 1795 to 1798; 1798 to 1800; 1801 to 1803

Lists

1785 Taxpayers
1788 Delegates to Congress
June 1788 Election of Delegates to Congress
1788 Poll of Dennis Dawley
1788 Poll for Thomas Kempe
1788 Delegates to Congress
1789 Delegates to Congress
1789 Freeholders
1789 Poll of Voters for Anthony Walke
1789 Poll of Voters for Edward Moseley
1789 Poll of Voters for Thomas Lawson for General Assembly
1796 Freeholders
1799 Voters
1800 Voters
1803 Voters

Maps

1736 Beverley Patent (map of names)
1886 Map

Miscellaneous

1704 Quit Rent Rolls

Traced genealogies and family histories of Princess Anne County available to Members !

Franklin

Saunders

17th Century Colonists to Virginia

Some of the largest landowners of the 17th century were Richard Lee, William Byrd, Adam Thoroughgood, and the elder Nathaniel Bacon. The English spirit prevailed and class distinctions were upheld. As in England, the class of a gentleman was distinctly different from the yeoman, and the yeoman was separate from the agricultural servant or mechanic. The population of the colony was mostly of pure English blood and a good many of the first adventurers had titles and rank and transported servants which entitled them to be granted large tracts of land. The idea was to amass large tracts of land based on the number of servants transported into the colony and to establish colonial plantations. The true adventurer uprooted his family for the opportunity of what later became ” the American dream.” The emigrants were not drawn because of religious differences (as in New England), but rather based on the customs and traditions of their native land. Virginia Immigrants Origins of Colonists

The Head Right Grant

That for all persons, which during the next seven years after Midsummer Day 1618 shall go into Virginia with intent there to inhabit If they continue there three years or dye after they are shipped there shall be a grant made of fifty acres for every person upon a first division and as many more upon a second division (the first being peopled) which grants to be made respectively to such persons and their heirs at whose charges the said persons going to inhabit in Virginia shall be transported with reservation of twelve pence yearly rent for every fifty acres to be answered to the said treasurer and company and their successors for ever after the first seven years of every such grant.

” Thus, it is evident that not only was the headright grant of fifty acres per person open to shareholders who brought settlers into the colony, but also to anyone who had migrated to the colony at his own expense or who had financed the expedition of other persons. Individuals paying for their own transportation were entitled to fifty acres for themselves and for every member of the family, providing they fulfilled the residence requirement of three years. This is how so many early settlers became large landowners of thousands of acres. The headright was set aside by the crown in 1624, however, the royal governors continued to honor headright claims based on immigration. It became the custom.

Princess Anne County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Deeds, Poll Lists, Indexes to Probate Records

First Settlers of Princess Anne County

Images of Wills 1714-1724

Images of Wills 1724 to 1735

Images of Guardians of Orphans 1774-1777

Images of Wills 1747-1755

Images of Wills 1779-1780

Images of Deeds, Wills, Estates 1780-1782

Images of Wills 1782 to 1793

Images of Will Bk No. 1, 1783-1794 and Will Bk No. 2, 1795-1807; Will Bk 3, 1808-1834

Indexes to Wills, Deeds, Estates

Images of Deeds

Deeds, Orders, Wills, Estates

Miscellaneous Land Patents, Deeds, Releases

Miscellaneous Wills, Estates

Minute Books

Registered Marks

Maps

Miscellaneous Marriage Contracts

Indexes to Probate Records and Deeds

Lists

Maps

Miscellaneous

Traced genealogies and family histories of Princess Anne County available to Members !

17th Century Colonists to Virginia

The Head Right Grant

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