Robert Alonzo Brock

Mecklenburg County was named, like Charlotte County, for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, consort of George III. It was formed from Lunenburg County in 1764.

From the guide to the Mecklenburg County (Va.) Land Grant to Stephen Mallett, 1785 Nov. 14, (The Library of Virginia)

Albemarle County was named for William Anne Keppel, second earl of Albemarle and governor of the Virginia colony from 1737 to 1754. It was formed from Goochland County in 1744, and part of Louisa County and certain islands in the Fluvanna River, now called the James, were added later.

From the guide to the Albemarle County (Va.) Deeds and Land Grants, 1758-1852, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Land Grant to Legatees of Reuben Bates, 1813 Mar. 9, (The Library of Virginia)

Elizabeth City County was named for Elizabeth, daughter of James I, and was one of the eight shires established in 1634. It became extinct in 1952, when it was incorporated into the city of Hampton, which was the county seat.

Records were burned or destroyed during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Additional records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War. A few pre-Civil War volumes such as deed books, will books, and order books exist.

From the guide to the Elizabeth County (Va.) Copy, 1816, of a Land Grant to William Woolritch, 1635 June 17, (The Library of Virginia)

Bourbon County (Kentucky) was named for the royal family of France in recognition of French aid to the colonies during the Revolution. It was formed in 1785 from Kentucky County. Bourbon County became a part of the state of Kentucky when it was created in June 1792.

From the guide to the Bourbon County (Ky.) Land Grant to Charles Scott and Samuel Couch, 1790 Dec. 25, (The Library of Virginia)

Cumberland County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, third son of George II. It was formed from Goochland County in 1749.

From the guide to the Cumberland County (Va.) Deed from Elisha Jackson to Henry Irving and John David and to John Trevillian, 1846 May 14, (The Library of Virginia)

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, an exceptional rock formation located in the county. The county was formed from Augusta and Botetourt Counties in 1778, and another part of Botetourt was added later.

From the guide to the Rockbridge County (Va.) Land Grants, 1809-1860, (The Library of Virginia)

Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, the oldest son of James I. It was one of the eight original shires established in 1634.

From the guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Deeds and Fragment of a Land Grant, 1725-1875, (The Library of Virginia)

John Durbarrow Blair was born 15 October 1759 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to John Blair and Elizabeth Durbarrow Blair. Educated by his father, Blair entered the College of New Jersey (Princeton) from where he graduated in 1775. He taught at schools in New Jersey and New York for five years before moving to the Washington-Henry Academy in Hanover County, Virginia, where he taught from 1780 to 1790. Blair was licensed to preach in the Presbyterian Church 28 October 1784, and served at Pole Green Church in Hanover County. Blair moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1790, but continued to conduct services at Pole Green Church. He continued teaching after moving to Richmond. The House of Delegates appointed him chaplain and he served from 1799 to 1802. Blair was one of the movers for building Monumental Church on the site of the Richmond Theater fire of 26 December 1811. After sharing the church with the Episcopals of Richmond for ten years, the Presbyterians established the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond in 1821. Blair married Mary Winston of Richmond on 4 March 1785, and they had eight children. Blair died in Richmond in 10 January 1823, and was buried in Shockoe Cemetery.

From the guide to the John D. Blair Papers, 1781-1823, (Library of Virginia)

King William County was named for William III and was formed from King and Queen County in 1701.

Most records were destroyed by a courthouse fire on 17 January 1885. Only a few order books and deed books exist.

From the guide to the King William County (Va.) Memorandum of an agreement between William Dabney and William Cock regarding the sale of land, 1800 Aug. 15, (The Library of Virginia)

York County was an original shire, formed in 1634. It was called Charles River County from 1634 to 1643.

Warwick County (Va.) was also an original shire, formed in 1634. It was called Warwick River County from 1634 to 1643. Now extinct, it was incorporated into the city of Warwick in 1952, and then into the city of Newport News in 1958.

From the guide to the York County (Va.) Land Grant to Seamore Powell for 282 acres in York and Warwick Counties, 1693 Apr. 20, (The Library of Virginia)

Nicholas County (West) Virginia was named for Wilson Cary Nicholas, Virginia governor from 1814 to 1816. It was created in 1818 from sections of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Randolph Counties. Nicholas County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Nicholas County (W. Va.) Land Grants, 1861-1862, (The Library of Virginia)

Louisa County was named for Louisa, a daughter of George II. It was formed from Hanover County in 1742.

From the guide to the Louisa County (Va.) Deed, 1809 Apr. 14, (The Library of Virginia)

Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin and was formed from Bedford and Henry Counties in 1785.

From the guide to the Fluvanna County (Va.) Land Grants, 1807 and 1812, (The Library of Virginia)

Pendleton County (West) Virginia was named for Virginia statesman and jurist Edmund Pendleton. It was formed in 1788 from parts of Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham Counties. In 1790, an additional section of Augusta County was added to Pendleton, and in 1796 part of Bath County as well. Pendleton County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Pendleton County (W. Va.) Land Grant to Andrew Coyl, 1798 Oct. 17, (The Library of Virginia)

Appomattox County was named for the Appomattox River, which rises in the county. The name was borne earlier by an Indian tribe living near the mouth of the river. The county was formed from parts of Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Campbell Counties in 1845, and another part of Campbell was added in 1848.

All records except land tax books were destroyed by fire on 1 February 1892.

From the guide to the Appomattox County (Va.) Land Grant to William Jones, 1848 Jan. 31, (The Library of Virginia)

Fayette County was named for the Marquis de Lafayette. It was created in 1780 and was one of the original counties that made up the district of Kentucky. Fayette County consisted of the northern and eastern portions of the present state. Fayette County became a part of the state of Kentucky when it was created in June 1792.

From the guide to the Fayette County (Ky.) Land Grants, 1787 and 1790, (The Library of Virginia)

Morgan County (West) Virginia was named for Daniel Morgan, hero of the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolution. It was formed in 1820 from parts of Berkeley and Hampshire Counties. Morgan County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Morgan County (Va.) Land Grant to John A. Hamilton, 1856 July 1, (The Library of Virginia)

James City County was named for James I. It was one of the eight shires established in 1634. Parts of New Kent and York Counties were added later.

During the Civil War, the records of James City County and Williamsburg were transferred to Richmond for safekeeping but were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865.

From the guide to the James City County (Va.) Land Grant and Deeds, 1638-1713, (The Library of Virginia)

Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from Northumberland County. Part of King George County was added in 1777.

From the guide to the Westmoreland County (Va.) Circuit Court. Records, 1697-1722, (The Library of Virginia)

Brunswick County was named for the duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, one of the German possessions of George I. It was formed in 1720 from Prince George County, but, because of the sparse population, county government was not organized until 1732. In the latter year Brunswick County was enlarged by the addition of parts of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties.

From the guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Land Grants, 1726-1794, (The Library of Virginia)

Surry County was named for the county of Surrey in England, and was formed from James City County about 1652.

From the guide to the Surry County (Va.) Deed and Land Grant, 1753 and 1759, (The Library of Virginia)

Culpeper County probably was named for Catherine Culpeper, or for her mother, Margaret Lady Culpeper, or for Thomas Culpeper, second baron Culpeper of Thoresway, governor of Virginia from 1677 to 1683, or for their family, which long held proprietary rights in the Northern Neck. It was formed from Orange County in 1749.

From the guide to the Culpeper County (Va.) Deeds, 1783-1800, (The Library of Virginia)

Fairfax County was named for Thomas Fairfax, sixth baron Fairfax of Cameron, proprietor of the Northern Neck. It was formed from Prince William County in 1742.

Original wills and deeds as well as many other loose papers were destroyed during the Civil War; deed books for twenty-six of the fifty-six years between 1763 and 1819 are missing. Numerous pre-Civil War minute books are missing as well.

From the guide to the Fairfax County (Va.) Deed from Robert Carter and Frances, his wife, to John Semple, 1762 Nov. 2, (The Library of Virginia)

Ohio County (West) Virginia was named for the Ohio River, ohio being the Indian word for great river. It was created in 1776 at the same time as Monongalia County from part of the district of West Augusta. In 1785, part of Yohogania County was added to Ohio. Ohio County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Ohio County (W.Va.) Deed, 1835, (The Library of Virginia)

Gilmer County (West) Virginia was named for Thomas Walker Gilmer, governor of Virginia from 1840 to 1841 and secretary of the navy in President John Tyler's administration. Gilmer was killed in an explosion on the USS Princeton in 1844. Gilmer County was created in 1845 from portions of Lewis and Kanawha Counties. Gilmer County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Gilmer County (W. Va.) Land Grant to Minter Jackson, 1861 Mar., (The Library of Virginia)

Sussex County was named for the English county, and was formed from Surry County in 1753.

From the guide to the Sussex County (Va.) Land Grant to William Pleasants, 1818 Jan. 20, (The Library of Virginia)

New Kent County may have been named either for the English county of Kent or for Kent Island, in the upper waters of the Chesapeake Bay. William Claiborne, a native of Kent who had been driven from Kent Island by Lord Baltimore, was a prominent resident of the New Kent area about 1654 when the county was formed from York County. Part of James City County was added in 1767. The county seat is New Kent.

Records were destroyed when John Posey set fire to the courthouse on 15 July 1787. Many records were lost when the courthouse was partially destroyed by fire during Civil War hostilities in 1862. Additional records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.

From the guide to the New Kent County (Va.) Deeds and Land Grant, 1697-1827, (The Library of Virginia)

Greene County was named for Nathaniel Greene, American commander of the Army of the South in the Revolutionary War. It was formed from Orange County in 1838.

From the guide to the Greene County (Va.) Land Grant to Thomas R. Dunn, 1842 Feb. 28, (The Library of Virginia)

Jefferson County (Kentucky) was named for Thomas Jefferson, governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. Established in 1780, it was one of the three original counties that made up the district of Kentucky. Jefferson County consisted of the middle section of the state. Jefferson County became a part of the state of Kentucky when it was created in June 1792.

From the guide to the Jefferson County (Ky.) Land Grants, 1779 and 1786, (The Library of Virginia)

Frederick County was named in honor of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales and eldest son of George II. It was formed from Orange County in 1738, but, because the region was sparsely settled, county government was not organized until 1743. Part of Augusta County was added later.

From the guide to the Frederick County (Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1789-1853, (The Library of Virginia)

Robert Alonzo Brock, historian, antiquarian, and collector, was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1839. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 21st Virginia Regiment, transferring later to a hospital unit with which he remained for the duration of the war. Brock later served as associate editor of the Richmond Standard (1879-1882), corresponding secretary of the Virginia Historical Society (1875-1892), and secretary of the Southern Historical Society (1887-1914). He also edited the societies' papers and authored the first biographical dictionary of Virginians ( Virginia and Virginians ). An avid collector of Virginiana, Brock started his collection before the Civil War and added materials up to the time of his death in 1914, accumulating nearly 50,000 manuscripts relating to Virginia and the history of the South.

From the guide to the Robert Alonzo Brock Correspondence, ca. 1880-1910, (The Library of Virginia)

Lancaster County probably was named for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland and York Counties in 1651.

From the guide to the Lancaster County (Va.) Deed for Lands and Slaves Conveyed by Joseph and Mary Walker Cabell to John Coalter, 1815 Sept. 29, (The Library of Virginia)

Lincoln County was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln, whose army was captured by the British at Charleston in 1779. Formed in 1780, Lincoln County was the third of the original counties established in the district of Kentucky. It consisted of the western portion of the present state. Lincoln County became a part of the state of Kentucky when it was created in June 1792.

From the guide to the Lincoln County (Ky.) Deed and Land Grant, 1789-1790, (The Library of Virginia)

Buckingham County probably was named either for the English county or for the duke of Buckingham. According to some sources, however, the name came from Archibald Cary's tract of land called Buckingham, on what was then Willis's Creek. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

Records were destroyed by fire in 1869.

From the guide to the Buckingham County (Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1804-1857, (The Library of Virginia)

Russell County was named for William Russell, a Clinch Valley pioneer and the member of the House of Delegates who introduced the legislation forming the county from Washington County in 1786.

From the guide to the Russell County (Va.) Land Grant to Joseph Jessee, 1870 Mar. 13, (The Library of Virginia)

Berkeley County (West) Virginia was named in honor of Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt, for whom Botetourt County was also named. It was created from Frederick County in 1772. Berkeley County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Berkeley County (W. Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1797-1861, (The Library of Virginia)

Bedford County probably was named for John Russell, fourth duke of Bedford, who, as secretary of state for the southern department from 1748 to 1751, had general supervision of colonial affairs. It was formed from Lunenburg County in 1753, and parts of Albemarle and Lunenburg Counties were added later.

From the guide to the Bedford County (Va.) Deeds, 1822-1828, (The Library of Virginia)

Dinwiddie County was named for Robert Dinwiddie, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1751 to 1757, and was formed from Prince George County in 1752.

The bulk of court records prior to 1865 were stolen, mutilated, and/or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse during the last months of the Civil War. Post-1830 volumes such as deed books, will books, chancery order books, and marriage registers exist.

From the guide to the Dinwiddie County (Va.) Deeds, 1819 and 1825, (The Library of Virginia)

Greensville County was named either for Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene or for Sir Richard Grenville, leader of the Roanoke Island settlement of 1585. The county was formed from Brunswick County in 1780. Parts of Brunswick and Sussex Counties were added later.

From the guide to the Greensville County (Va.) Land Grant to Wiley Doyle, 1834 Oct. 11, (The Library of Virginia)

Monroe County (West) Virginia was named in honor of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States. It was formed in 1799 from Greenbrier County, and in 1802 part of Botetourt was added. Monroe County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Monroe County (W. Va.) Land Grant to Joseph Quigley, 1808 May 5, (The Library of Virginia)

Southampton County was named, in the opinion of many authorities, for Henry Wriothesley, third early of Southampton and treasurer of the London Company from 1620 to 1624. It is more likely, however, that the county was named for the borough of Southampton in England. Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, and part of Nansemond County was added later.

From the guide to the Southampton County (Va.) Land Grant to Anthony Harris, 1836 July 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Caroline County was named for Caroline of Anspach, consort of George II. It was formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William Counties in 1728, and additional parts of King and Queen were added later.

Most loose records and deed books prior to 1836 and will books prior to 1853 were stolen, mutilated, and/or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse in May 1864. A near-complete run of order books exists.

From the guide to the Caroline County (Va.) Land Grant to Thomas Boulware, 1804 July 17, (The Library of Virginia)

Westmoreland County was formed in 1653 from Northumberland County, and part of King George County was added later. It was named for the English county.

From the guide to the Westmoreland County (Va.) Deeds and Land Grant, 1687-1770, (The Library of Virginia)

Hanover County was named for George I, who at the time of his accession to the English throne was elector of Hanover in Germany. The county was formed from New Kent County in 1720.

Most county court records, particularly deeds, wills, and marriage records, were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War. The circuit court records were not moved to Richmond and were relatively unscathed. Consequently, there is a strong run of common law papers and chancery papers after 1831 that were generated by the circuit superior court of law and chancery and its successor, the circuit court.

From the guide to the Hanover County (Va.) Deeds and Land Grants, 1727-1857, (The Library of Virginia)

Washington County was formed in 1776 from Fincastle County. Part of Montgomery County was added in 1777.

From the guide to the Washington County (Va.) Circuit Court. Records, 1806-1884, (The Library of Virginia)

Nansemond County was named for the Nansemond Indians, who lived in the area in the early seventeenth century. The word nansemond means fishing point or angle. When first established in 1637, the county was known as Upper Norfolk, but the name Nansemond was adopted in 1646. The county became the independent city of Nansemond in July 1972, and merged with the city of Suffolk in 1974. The entire area is now known as Suffolk.

Nansemond County court records were destroyed in three separate fires: the earliest consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), the second was set by British troops in 1779, and the last occurred on 7 February 1866.

From the guide to the Nansemond County (Va.) Copy, circa 1710, of a Land Grant to Jeremiah Arline, 1695 Apr. 21, (The Library of Virginia)

Rappahannock County was named for the Rappahannock River, which in turn received its name from an Indian tribe that lived along its banks. There have been two Virginia counties named Rappahannock. The first was created from Lancaster in 1656 and became extinct in 1692 when it was divided into Essex and Richmond Counties. The present county was formed from Culpeper County in 1833.

From the guide to the Rappahannock County (Va.) Land Grant to John Green, 1852 Jan. 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named in 1832 for Alexander Smyth, a former congressman from Virginia who had died in 1830 while efforts were underway to create the new county. The county was formed from Washington and Wythe Counties.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Land Grant and Lease of the Preston Saltworks Estate, 1858 and 1862, (The Library of Virginia)

Montgomery County was named for Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the American assault on Quebec late in 1775. It was formed from Fincastle County in 1776, and parts of Botetourt and Pulaski Counties were added later.

From the guide to the Montgomery County (Va.) Land Grants, 1808 and 1819, (The Library of Virginia)

Bath County was given its name either for the many mineral springs found in the county or for the town of Bath in England. It was formed from Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier (now in West Virginia) Counties in 1790.

From the guide to the Bath County (Va.) Land Grant to James Cleek and Adam G. McGuffin, 1847 Aug. 30, (The Library of Virginia)

Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, revolutionary leader and first governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. It was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1776.

From the guide to the Henry County (Va.) Land Grant to John Lee, 1794 May 22, (The Library of Virginia)

Monongalia County (West) Virginia derived its name from the Monongahela River, although the county's name is spelled slightly differently. Monongahela is an Indian word meaning the river of crumbling or caving banks. Monongalia County was created in 1776 from the district of West Augusta, and parts of Augusta County were added in 1779 and 1780. Monongalia County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Monongalia County (W. Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1787-1811, (The Library of Virginia)

Calhoun County (West) Virginia was named for John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. It was formed from Gilmer County in 1856.

From the guide to the Calhoun County (W. Va.) Land Grant to Patrick Rafferty, 1861 July 1, (The Library of Virginia)

The Pleasants family were a prominent Virginia Quaker family with lands on the Upper James River. John Pleasants (d. 1698) emigrated from England and settled in Henrico County, Virginia, around 1665. He converted to Quakerism and was an active and prominent member of the church, donating land to the church, the Curles Meeting House, and filing peitions and reports to the authorities on behalf of the Society of Friends. He married Jane (Larcome) Tucker, widow of Samuel Tucker, in 1670.

John Pleasants, II (1671-1714), was the son of John and Jane Pleasants. He married Dorothy Cary, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Milner) Cary, in 1694.

His second son, John Pleasants III (1697-1771), also a Quaker, amassed a fortune in land and slaves, but in later life he advocated the abolition of slavery. In his last will, 11 August 1771, he requested that his slaves be emancipated. He married three times, first to Margaret Jordan (b. 1699), daughter of Robert Jordan and his first wife Mary (Belson) Jordan. In 1750 he married Mary Woodson, daughter of Tarleton and Judith (Fleming) Woodson. Finally he married Miriam Hunnicutt, widow of Glaister Hunnicutt.

Robert Pleasants (1723-1810), second son of John and Margaret Pleasants, was born at "Curles" Plantation, Henrico County, Virginia. He was a staunch Quaker, zealous agitator against slavery, and the first president of the Abolition Society of Virginia, established in 1790. In 1782 he successfully lobbied for the Manumission Act and in 1792 sent a petition to the U.S. Congress from the Virginia Abolition Society calling for the end to the slave trade. He went to court repeatedly to free hundreds of slaves. In 1784 Robert founded the Gravelly Hill School, the first school for free blacks in Virginia, and set aside 350 acres of land to maintain the schools.

Samuel Pleasants (1737-1807), also a son of John and Margaret Pleasants, was born at "Curles" Plantation. At the age of twenty five, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and established himself as a merchant. He married Mary Pemberton (1738-1821) in 1762. He was also active in the abolitionist movement. In 1777, Samuel Pleasants, along with several of his brothers-in-law and other prominent Quakers, were arrested and imprisoned as "Torries" because they refused to bear arms. General George Washington intervened and personally signed an order for their release.

James Pleasants (1769-1836), served as Governor of Virginia, 1822-1825. His son, John Hampden Pleasants (1797-1846), founded the Richmond Whig newspaper. He married Ann Elizabeth Irvin and Mary Massie. He was killed on 27 February 1846 in a duel with Thomas Ritchie, Jr., owner of rival newspaper the Richmond Enquirer.

From the guide to the Pleasants family Papers, 1745-1898, (Library of Virginia)

The city of Richmond was named by William Byrd II, who envisioned the development of a city at the falls of the James River and with the help of William Mayo laid out the town in 1737. The name probably came from the English borough of Richmond upon Thames, which Byrd visited on several occasions. Richmond was established in 1742 and in 1779 was designated the capital of Virginia effective April 1780. It was incorporated as a city in 1842. It was capital of the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865. Richmond was enlarged by the annexation of Manchester (or South Richmond) in 1910, and by the addition of Barton Heights, Fairmount, and Highland Park in 1914. A further annexation from Chesterfield County occurred in 1970.

From the guide to the Richmond (Va.) Court Records, 1743-1900, (The Library of Virginia)

William Green was born in 1806, the son of John W. and Mary Browne Green of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He married Columbia E. Slaughter (b. 1809) on 10 April 1837 in Orange County, Virginia, and the couple had two children. He died on 29 July 1880.

From the guide to the William Green Papers, 1812-1880, (Library of Virginia)

The Minor family resided in Albemarle County, Virginia. Charles Minor (1810-1861), Lucian Minor (1802-1858), and John Barbee Minor (1813-1895) were three of the eight children of Lancelot (1763-1849) and Mary Overton Minor (1771-1836) of "Minor's Folly", Albemarle County, Virginia. Charles Minor married Lucy Walker Minor (1818-1881), daughter of Peter and Lucy Gilmer Minor of Albemarle County, Virginia, on 18 May 1835.

Benjamin Blake Minor (1818-1905) served as editor of the SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER (1843-1847), principal of the Virginia Female Institue, Staunton, Virginia (1847-1848), and president of the University of Missouri (1860-1862). Lucian Minor was a cousin, born on 4 April 1802, Louisa County, Virginia, and died on 6 July 1858. He was admitted to the Albemarle Bar in 1830 and married Lavinia Callis Price on 4 May 1846.

Charles Landon Carter Minor (1835-1903) was born in Hanover County, Virginia, and died in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was involved with education throughout his career, taught in Hanover County, Virginia, running a private school in Lynchburg, Virginia, and elected the first president of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (Virginia Tech), 1872-1879.

From the guide to the Minor family Papers, 1787-1905, (Library of Virginia)

Kanawha County (West) Virginia was named for the Indian tribe that once lived in the area, the Conoys. The county name was first Kenhawa, but was later changed to Kanawha. It was formed in 1788 from parts of Greenbrier and Montgomery Counties. Kanawha County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Kanawha County (W. Va.) Land Grants, 1853 and 1856, (The Library of Virginia)

Page County was formed in 1831 from Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties.

From the guide to the Page County (Va.) Land Grant, 1855 Sept. 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Pittsylvania County was formed in 1766 from Halifax County.

From the guide to the Pittsylvania County (Va.) Land Grant to William Young, Assignee of John Grant, 1799 Aug. 8, (The Library of Virginia)

Nelson County (Kentucky) was named for Thomas Nelson, Jr., governor of Virginia from June to November 1781. It was created in 1784. Nelson County became a part of the state of Kentucky when it was created in June 1792.

From the guide to the Nelson County (Ky.) Land Grant to William Shannon, 1792 May 3, (The Library of Virginia)

Nelson County (Va.) was named for Thomas Nelson, Jr., governor of Virginia from June to November 1781. It was formed in 1807 from Amherst County.

From the guide to the Nelson County (Va.) Land Grants, 1828-1854, (The Library of Virginia)

Hampshire County (West) Virginia, the oldest county in the state of West Virginia, was named for the English shire. Although created by the law in 1754 from sections of Augusta and Frederick Counties, border unrest during the French and Indian War delayed the formal organization of county government until 1757. Part of Augusta and Hardy Counties were added to Hampshire later. Hampshire County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Hampshire County (W. Va.) Land Grants, 1803-1861, (The Library of Virginia)

Powhatan County was named for the Indian chieftain who ruled the Native American inhabitants of tidewater Virginia in the early seventeenth century. It was formed from Cumberland County in 1777, and part of Chesterfield County was added later.

From the guide to the Powhatan County (Va.) Land Records, 1808-1856, (The Library of Virginia)

Patrick County was formed in 1790 from Henry County.

From the guide to the Patrick County (Va.) Land Grant, 1875 Nov. 4, (The Library of Virginia)

Greenbrier County (West) Virginia was named for the Greenbrier River. It was formed in 1778 from parts of Botetourt and Montgomery Counties, and portions of Monroe and Fayette Counties were added later.

From the guide to the Greenbrier County (W. Va.) Land Grants, 1861-1864, (The Library of Virginia)

James City County was named for James I. It was one of the eight shires established in 1634. Parts of New Kent and York Counties were added later.

During the Civil War, the records of James City County and Williamsburg were transferred to Richmond for safekeeping but were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865.

From the guide to the James City County (Va.) Land Grant to John Benton, 1642 Oct. 13, (The Library of Virginia)

Major Joseph Scott (1743-1810) of Amelia County, Virginia, was the son of Samuel and Frances Scott. He served during the Revolutionary War. He was appointed United States Marshall for Virginia by Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and served until his death in 1810.

From the guide to the Joseph Scott Papers, 1801-1810, (Library of Virginia)

Loudoun County was named for John Campbell, fourth earl of Loudoun, who was commander of British forces in North America during the early part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1756 to 1759. It was formed from Fairfax County in 1757.

From the guide to the Loudoun County (Va.) Land Grants, 1803 and 1833, (The Library of Virginia)

Botetourt County was named for Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt, the royal governor who served from 1768 to 1770. It was formed from Augusta County in 1769, and a part of Rockbridge County was added later.

From the guide to the Botetourt County (Va.) Land Grants, 1797 and 1822, (The Library of Virginia)

Cabell County (West) Virginia was named for William H. Cabell, governor of Virginia from 1805 through 1808. It was created in 1809 from Kanawha County. Cabell County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Cabell County (Va.) Land Grant to Calvin Adkins, 1861 Feb. 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Goochland County was named for Sir William Gooch, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749. It was formed from Henrico County in 1728.

From the guide to the Goochland County (Va.) Deeds, 1785-1859, (The Library of Virginia)

Braxton County (West) Virginia was named for Carter Braxton, one of Virginia's signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was created in 1836 from Lewis and Nicholas Counties, and part of Randolph County was added in 1849. Braxton County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Braxton County (W. Va.) Land Grants, 1861-1862, (The Library of Virginia)

Chesterfield County was named for Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of Chesterfield, British statesman and diplomat, and was formed from Henrico County in 1749.

From the guide to the Chesterfield County (Va.) Deeds, 1806-1877, (The Library of Virginia)

William Harding Perkins (1780-1826) was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, to William Perkins (1740-1806) and Elizabeth Lee Fearn Perkins (1750-1839). William H. Perkins established his home at "Solitude" in Buckingham County. Perkins was a tobacco farmer and served as deputy sheriff in Powhatan County, Virginia, and as sheriff of Buckingham County. He married Mildred Walker Merry (1794-1841), and they had five children: Thomas Fearn Perkins (b. 1820), Catherine Merry Perkins (1821-1889), Eliza Mildred Perkins (b. 1823), William Harding Perkins (1824-1892), and Anne Frances Perkins (1827-1907). William Harding Perkins represented Buckingham County in the House of Delegates in 1853-1854.

From the guide to the Perkins Family Papers, 1806-1874, (Library of Virginia)

Orange County was formed in 1734 from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Land Records, 1803-1849, (The Library of Virginia)

Hardy County (West) Virginia was named for Samuel Hardy, a Virginia statesman. It was formed in 1786 from Hampshire County. Hardy County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Hardy County (Va.) Land Grants, 1852-1860, (The Library of Virginia)

Robert Alonzo Brock, historian, antiquarian, and collector, was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1839. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 21st Virginia Regiment, transferring later to a hospital unit with which he remained for the duration of the war. Brock later served as associate editor of the Richmond Standard (1879-1882), corresponding secretary of the Virginia Historical Society (1875-1892), and secretary of the Southern Historical Society (1887-1914). He also edited the societies' papers and authored the first biographical dictionary of Virginians ( Virginia and Virginians ). An avid collector of Virginiana, Brock started his collection before the Civil War and added materials up to the time of his death in 1914, accumulating nearly 50,000 manuscripts relating to Virginia and the history of the South.

From the guide to the Robert A. Brock Miscellaneous files, 1655-1908, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince George County was named for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne of England. It was formed from Charles City County in 1702.

Most court records were destroyed in 1782 by British troops during the Revolutionary War and again in 1864 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

From the guide to the Prince George County (Va.) Land Grant to John Anderson, 1725, (The Library of Virginia)

Wirt County (West) Virginia was formed in honor of William Wirt, who gained fame in Virginia as a lawyer and is perhaps best known for his role in the prosecution of Aaron Burr for treason. The county was created in 1848 from portions of Wood and Jackson Counties. Wirt County was one of the fifty western Virginia counties to form the state of West Virginia in 1863.

From the guide to the Wirt County (W.Va.) Land Grant to B.W. Creel, Dryden Donnally, and M.P. Schrock, 1861 July 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Craig County was named for Robert Craig, a nineteenth-century Virginia congressman. The county was formed from Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and Monroe (now in West Virginia) Counties in 1851, and several subsequent additions were made from Alleghany, Giles, Monroe, and Montgomery Counties.

From the guide to the Craig County (Va.) Deeds, 1856 and 1861, (The Library of Virginia)

Augusta County was named in honor of Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wife of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, and mother of George III. It was formed from Orange County in 1738, but, because the region was sparsely inhabited, county government was not actually established there until 1745.

From the guide to the Augusta County (Va.) Land Grant to James Patton, 1749 Apr. 1, (The Library of Virginia)

Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonists in their disputes with Great Britain. It was formed from Augusta County in 1778.

From the guide to the Rockingham County (Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1772-1860, (The Library of Virginia)

Fluvanna County takes its name from an eighteenth-century term for the Upper James River. The name, meaning river of Anne, was bestowed in honor of Queen Anne of England. The county was formed from Albemarle County in 1777.

From the guide to the Fluvanna County (Va.) Deed and Land Grants, 1788-1856, (The Library of Virginia)

Fauquier County was named for Francis Fauquier, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1758 to 1768. It was formed in 1759 from Prince William County.

From the guide to the Fauquier County (Va.) Land Grant to John Walden, 1832 Oct. 18, (The Library of Virginia)

Richmond County may have been named for Richmond borough in Surrey, England, or for Charles Lennox, first duke of Richmond and a son of King Charles II. It was formed from Old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county seat is Warsaw.

Some volumes were burned and mutilated through unknown causes; in addition, the will books prior to 1699 were missing as early as 1793, and order books for the period 1794-1816 are also missing. Numerous loose records prior to 1781 are missing as well.

From the guide to the Richmond County (Va.) Deeds, 1710-1724, (The Library of Virginia)

Samuel Jordan Cabell (1756-1818), was the son of William Cabell II (1730-1798) and Margaret Jordan (d. 1812) of Nelson County, Virginia. He served during the Revolutionary war under George Washington, raising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He married Sarah Syme (1760-1814) of Hanover County, Virginia. Samuel represented Amherst County in the Virginia House of Delegates (1785-1792) and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1795-1803).

William Cabell (1772-1853), was the son of Nicholas Cabell (1750-1803) and Hannah Carrington of Amherst County, Virginia. In 1795 he married his first cousin, Elizabeth Cabell (d. 1801), and settled in Amherst County, Virginia. In 1805 he remarried to Agnes S.B. Gamble (1783-1863). He served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as state court judge, and Governor of Virginia (1805-1808).

Joseph Carrington Cabell (1778-1856) served in the Virginia General Assembly, 1808-1835, helped establish the James River and Kanawha Canal, and was a founding father and advocate for the University of Virginia.

Nathaniel Francis Cabell (1807-1891) was the son of Nicholas Cabell Jr. and Mary Carter Cabell. He married Anne Blaws Cocke (d. 1862), daughter of General John Hartwell Cocke. In 1867 he remarried to Mary M. Keller. He was a follower of Swedenborgianism, a pietistic and ecumenical sect of Christianity named for founder Emanuel Swedenborg. He was an author, writing genealogies on the Cabell family, on his religious sect, and anonomously edited the correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and Joseph Carrington Cabell relative to the establishment of the University of Virginia.

James Lawrence Cabell (1813-1899) was the son of George Cabell, Jr. (1774-1827). He attended the University of Virginia, 1829-1833, was a physician, and Professor of Anatomy and Surgery of the School of Medicine in the University of Virginia. He also served as president of the National Board of Health, 1879-1884.

George Craighead Cabell (1836-1906) was the son of Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell. He was a lawyer, served in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1875-1887, and a Confederate officer during the Civil War.

From the guide to the Cabell family Papers, 1778-1893, (Library of Virginia)

York County was an original shire, formed in 1634. It was called Charles River County from 1634 to 1643.

From the guide to the York County (Va.) Deed from Henry Atkinson and Wife to James Dowling, 1713 Oct. 14, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Deeds and Land Grants, 1768-1863, (The Library of Virginia)

Roanoke County was named for the Roanoke River. The name is an Indian word meaning shell money. The county was formed from Botetourt County in 1838, and part of Montgomery County was added later.

From the guide to the Roanoke County (Va.) Land Grants, 1848-1856, (The Library of Virginia)

Campbell County was named for William Campbell, one of the heroes of the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780. The county was formed from Bedford County in 1781.

From the guide to the Campbell County (Va.) Deed and Land Grant, 1794 and 1809, (The Library of Virginia)