For those who still question whether the courthouse in Fauquier County ever burned, this is from a brochure I picked up at the Fauquier Co Public Library a few years ago, entitled "A Walking Tour of Warrenton, Virginia." "Old Courthouse built in 1890 after fires destroyed earlier buildings of 1790, 1819 and 1854. Site picked in 1790 by Richard Henry Lee as the highest point in town. Current courthouse reproduces an 1854 building copied after the Parthenon in Athens." The courthouse may have burned, but most records appear to have been unharmed and still available. As to birth and death records (1853-1896 registers) not being found, it should be noted that such events usually occurred at home, and they were simply not reported. Pat Duncan p.duncan@worldnet.att.net

Having transcribed and published death records for two counties, Loudoun and Fairfax, I have found that they also are missing the years 1861-1864. Remember, those were the Civil War years, and many if not all, counties did not keep records during that time. On the other hand, marriages in the District of Columbia during those years are MANY times greater than before or after the war. Apparently that was the only courthouse open. Interestingly enough, the other years missing for Loudoun and Fairfax, also seem to be the same years. We have talked about trying to compare to other counties and see if they are all missing the same years. Maybe Richmond did not require the records to be sent, or maybe they were lost in Richmond. Something I would love to know. However, I am sure the reason you do not find many if any for the period during the Civil War is because they were not gathered. The records in Loudoun County traveled all over the place in order to protect them from the Union soldiers. The records now found for the period 1861-64 are generally those records brought to the courthouse after the war. Betty Frain brfrain@comcast.net Researching Elgin, Dulin, Frain, Thrasher, Johnson, Hammerly, Thrift Elgin Genealogy: www.elgins.com A very happy TMG user and a proud member of RUG of Arlington, VA ----- Original Message ----- From: "P. Duncan" <p.duncan@worldnet.att.net> To: <VAFAUQUI-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 12:36 PM Subject: Re: [VAFAUQUI] Fauq. Co. records and courthouse burning | For those who still question whether the courthouse in Fauquier County | ever burned, this is from a brochure I picked up at the Fauquier Co | Public Library a few years ago, entitled "A Walking Tour of Warrenton, | Virginia." | | "Old Courthouse built in 1890 after fires destroyed earlier buildings of | 1790, 1819 and 1854. Site picked in 1790 by Richard Henry Lee as the | highest point in town. Current courthouse reproduces an 1854 building | copied after the Parthenon in Athens." | | The courthouse may have burned, but most records appear to have been | unharmed and still available. As to birth and death records (1853-1896 | registers) not being found, it should be noted that such events usually | occurred at home, and they were simply not reported. | | Pat Duncan | p.duncan@worldnet.att.net | | | | | | | ==== VAFAUQUI Mailing List ==== | List problems? First, read the Welcome Message that you received | When you subscribed to this list. Feel free to contact | Jim Burgess,list administrator mailto:jim@promobiz.biz | with questions concerning this list! | |