Bounty land was the reward for service to veterans from the Revolution through the Mexican War. Applications for bounty land from veterans or their heirs are bursting with genealogical information, but researchers rarely see it because records for the War of 1812 onwards are only found at the National Archives. Learn about the value of ... Read more
Join us for the first meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a new discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Kelley Conner Lear, CG®, will focus on Chapters 1 and 2, which examine Virginia’s geography and transportation and the impact of record availability at the colony, state, and local levels. Whether you are ... Read more
Researching enslaved individuals is often challenging, particularly when records name the enslaved only indirectly or not at all. In many cases, locating and thoroughly analyzing records created by enslavers is the key to identifying and tracing African American lives across time. The Enslaved at Oakley & Beyond Project demonstrates how careful, contextual research into enslavers ... Read more
Join us for the second meeting of Barbara’s Book Club, a discussion series exploring Barbara Vines Little’s A Researcher’s Guide to Virginia’s Historical Records. This month’s session, led by Vic Dunn, CG®, will focus on Chapters 3 and 4, which examine Company, Colony, and Commonwealth Records and Local Government Records. Whether you are new to Virginia research ... Read more
Many researchers don’t realize how common it once was to petition state government just to make things happen. Communities often had to formally request approval for everyday needs like schools, roads, bridges, ferries, and poorhouses. Individuals, neighbors, or even entire counties could submit petitions—not just for new services, but also to address problems like property ... Read more