Hi Gang, Here is the second part of the article on conducting research in Virginia. Good Luck. Dick Dutton ================================================= VIRGINIA RECORDS (Part Two of Two) by Brian Mavrogeorge, Director of Genealogy Initiatives Palladium Interactive <bmavrogeorge@palladium.net> Ultimate Family Tree <http://www.uftree.com> Next, I would check the federal census records for 1810 (partial), 1820 through 1880 (1890 was lost in a fire), and 1900-1920. The Mortality Schedule for 1850 is also indexed. The colonial land patents are one of the most important sources to check in part because for many burned counties they are among the few records available. There are several printed abstracts of land patents. Especially check Nell Marion Nugent's "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants," 3 vols. (1934; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983). This series covers the years 1623-1732. The Virginia Genealogical Society <http://www.vgs.org> picked up where Nugent left off and to date has published Volumes IV, V, and VI of "Cavaliers and Pioneers," bringing the series to 1762. Although probate records are kept at the county level, there is a printed index by Clayton Torrence, "Virginia Wills and Administrations, 1632-1800" (1930; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990). Caution: there are concerns about the completeness of the index. For early periods, check the records of The Virginia Company of London (1607-1624) and the records of colonial Virginia's Council and Great Court. A good place to look for guidance on sources is the Library of Virginia, which houses the Virginia archives. Be sure to check its Web site at <http://www.vsla.edu/lva/lva.html>. This is a "must read" site for Virginia researchers. It is fortunate that many genealogists have taken a personal interest in Virginia records and have done excellent work in abstracting, compiling, and indexing the state's records. They, along with publications like "The William and Mary College Quarterly," "Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine," and "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," have published many collections of Virginia records. You can find most of these periodicals and "Swem's Index" at many major libraries. A final tip of the hat to one of those dedicated Virginia genealogists, Mary McCampbell Bell, who wouldn't let me get away with using the excuse "my Greek records weren't available because the invading horde destroyed them" any more than "my Virginia ancestors' marriage can't be traced because the Yankees burned the courthouse." With her sweet smile she would simply say, "Oh, so you didn't find the marriage banns either?" * * * * * Written by Brian Mavrogeorge, Previously published by RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative, RootsWeb Review, Vol. 1, No. 25, 2 December 1998. You may visit RootsWeb's main Web page at <http://www.rootsweb.com>.