VGS Spring Virtual Conference – The Eve of Independence: Colonial Research in Virginia
Saturday, 25 April 2026
9:50 a.m.–10: a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
From Jamestowne to the Commonwealth, 1607-1776: Virginia’s Surviving Records and What They Can Tell Us – Barbara Vines Little, CG®, FNGS, FUGA, FVGS. Vandals, careless record keepers, and disasters have all taken their toll, but there are still numerous avenues to information about the men and women who created the foundation upon which this Commonwealth was built.
11:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m. BREAK
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
From Crown to Commonwealth: A Revolution in Virginia Inheritance – Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA. The Revolution didn’t just topple a king—it ended up dismantling Virginia’s inheritance system. In the new Commonwealth, entailed estates and primogeniture fell, heirs multiplied, and daughters gained new claims. As genealogists, we need to understand how that upheaval reshaped families and left a visible mark on probate records.
12:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK and VGS ANNUAL MEETING
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
The Virginia Colonial War Experience – Craig R. Scott, MA, CG®, FUGA. Conflicts among the French, Spanish, British, and indigenous tribes were common during the colonial period, from Jamestown to Lord Dunmore’s War. Several wars were fought over the land, resulting in records that can identify ancestors in a specific time and place. Virginians also traveled as far as Cartagena de Indias to fight with the British against the Spanish and played a significant role in the French and Indian War.
2:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. BREAK
2:45 p.m.–3:45 p.m.
Lines of Descent: Standards and Strategies for Colonial Era Lineage Applications, a Panel Discussion – Nicki Peak Birch, CG®; Lyndon H. Hart III, and Kimberly Ormsby Nagy, MD, AG®, AGL™ This panel discussion offers practical guidance on how lineage societies evaluate applications and supporting evidence. Panelists will explain common documentation standards, outline proof expectations for establishing lineage, and discuss how applications are reviewed and verified. Attendees will gain insight into common challenges and pitfalls, and strategies to strengthen their submissions, leaving with a clearer understanding of what lineage societies look for and how to present well-documented, persuasive proof.
Funds for the speakers for this Conference were provided in part by the Richard Slatten Endowment for Virginia History of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia.
BCG’s credentials and their acronyms—Certified Genealogist and CG—Certified Genetic Genealogist and CGG—Certified Genealogical Lecturer and CGL—are all registered certification marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certification marks may be used under license by certificants after periodic competency evaluations (and only during the current five-year period for which they are certified).
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Purchase a ticket below.
Non-members: $40 Members: $32
Members be sure to log in to the website before purchasing a ticket. The member discount will appear on the checkout page.
The Zoom link and a link to download the syllabus will be emailed to the email address you used to purchase the ticket approximately three days before the conference.