I'm still using my old 'Handy Book for Genealogists"; Sixth Edition. I would have been lost in the olden days without it. Now you can find the formation dates of the various States and Counties on the Internet at GenWeb. But it is very important that you have that information while you research. ~Mary~ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wanda Flesher" <w.flesher@gmail.com> To: <harris-hunters@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 5:27 PM Subject: [HARRIS-HUNTERS] Formation of Virginia Counties > In Evelyn's email directed mostly to Jo Ann, she referred to searching > Virginia counties. I have a chart that I use regularly, called Formation > of Virginia Counties from 1634. Because county boundaries changed fairly > frequently, and sometimes, counties were discontinued altogether, I find > my > chart invaluable. It gives the county formation date, and also the > discontinued date when that applied. In chart form, it shows new counties > as they were split from the parent county, so you can follow one split to > another - way on back. > > My chart was a gift from a friend, so I don't know who sells them, but if > you can find a source, you'll find it worth the price. I keep mine within > sight and reach whenever I'm working on family history. Since Harris's > were all over the place, it helps to have a better idea where to look. > > Just my 2 cents worth. :o) And, thanks Evelyn. More good information > which I can always use. > > Wanda Thomas Flesher > > > On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 12:36 PM, EVELYN WALLACE <hdanw@verizon.net> > wrote: > >> Jo Ann - You have to learn the genealogy of ALL the Virginia counties. >> There were about 8 original shires, but as the population grew, the newer >> counties were formed. One expert from Utah (editor, lecturer, etc.) >> says: >> If you are searching in Virginia, search ALL the counties. Good advice, >> no >> matter which state you are researching. I just happen to have bought in >> the last few years a book: Ann K. Blomquist, The Vestry Book of Southam >> Parish Cumberland County, Virginia 1745-1792 [Westminster, MD: Heritage >> Books, 2006] Cumberland Co., south of the James River, as I remember was >> formed from Goochland Co., which in turn was formed from Henrico Co., >> (one >> of the original shires). The parish boundaries, however, did not always >> (hardly ever)conformed to the political (county) boundaries. Same author >> Blomquist recently had published by Heritage Books Goochland Co. >> abstracts >> of court order books 3,4 and 5. These books are NOT cheap, but >> hardly any hobbies are cheap. Even a fisherman has equipment. >> Suggestion: Try the Library of Virginia website [google for it]. A long >> list of alphabetized subjects may come up. Go to the L's and look for >> land >> patents--the subject will include the Northern Neck land grants [not same >> as southern Virginia]. Type in your surname, but go to the *end of the >> line*. Even in the 21st century, Virginia is issuing land patents, and >> the >> newest ones show up first. Bradley of colonial days will be at the end >> of >> the line. The Bradley names [male of course] show up in the index for >> the >> Cumberland Vestry Book: David, James, James R., John [lots of >> entries--he >> must have been a church official]Thomas. The posted price of this book is >> $27.50 and of course there is shipping costs. There is a lot of history >> in >> this book. The Anglican church was semi-political. It took care of >> widows >> and orphans;the vestry ordered the processioning of the roads. It >> collected the tithes and paid a lot of bills of various kinds. Also, >> see >> if your library or a nearby library has the online database called >> HeritageQuest [also library version of Ancsry.com] HeritageQuest has >> digitized a lot of out-of-copyright books, and you may find lots of >> family >> or county histories in it. Confer with your librarian and get acquainted >> with World Cat [Dick Eastman's free newsletter on the net has an article >> about World Cat in the past few days. Check it out and discuss with your >> librarian.] Also check almost daily this free site: >> familysearch.org[and also its wiki--*how to* stuff] Lots of material is >> being digitized by >> the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and when I am not at the >> medical office, I am surprised almost daily by that site. Good luck. >> E.W.Wallace >> >> Harris Hunters: Lots of entries for male Harrises, especially one >> Benjamin. He must have been a vestryman. >> >> >> >> >> >> * > For Freedom's Sake - Love God, Love America* > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > HARRIS-HUNTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message