Researched Virginia Parish Documents
New items 3/2006 are in blue)
The Virginia counties (and related parishes) just north of James' home in Caswell County, NC are listed below along with their formations. None of the parish records in the area north of Caswell Co remain for birth, deaths or marriages. The relationship of parishes to counties is very confusing. Some parish records have been printed only recently. It may be that others have not? I have highlighted the parishes and counties I investigated:
There were many Virginia parishes. I have researched the available parish minutes and many miscellaneous county records in the areas above Caswell Co, NC into VA looking for our James and did not find any reference that I could clearly link to him. The only parish "registers" (they list marriages, death, etc) which still exist are Bristol Parish and the parishes in coastal areas of Virginia. In NC, none of the parish "registers" remain.
Approximately two dozen Virginia counties have had extensive loss of records at various times, primarily in the period from 1700 to 1900. The loses are mainly due to the Civil War as Virginia was a major battle field. However, a significant number of records losses occurred as a result of fires and the Revolutionary War. Some counties experienced record destruction as many as three separate times. Virginia counties which have suffered the most severe losses include:
Appomattox Gloucester Nansemond Warwick
Buchanan Hanover New Kent
Buckingham Henrico Nottoway
Caroline James City Prince George
Charles City King and Queen Prince William
Dinwiddie King William Rockingham
Elizabeth City Mathews Stafford
Source: http://freenet.vcu.edu/sigs/genealogy/burn-co.txt
County and Parish Records
For more information about parishes in Virginia, see http://www.virginiafamilyresearch.com/parish.html
For Virginia formation maps, see http://www.segenealogy.com/virginia/va_maps/va_cf.htm
For Virginia county formation dates and "formed from" see http://www.rootsweb.com/~vagenweb/county2.htm
The following table is an inventory of the documents that I found available for research for the Virginia areas which seemed relevant. Most do not have a remaining "register" of vital data. Those books that are bolded are those I have researched.
|
County/ Formation |
Formed from |
Parish |
Register |
Vestry |
Parish book name |
court records,land & marriage records |
|
New Kent 1654 |
|
St Peters |
yes |
Yes
|
The Vestry book of Blisland (Blissland) Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, 1721-1786 CClib
St. Peters Register 16801787 |
Vital records of three burned counties: births, marriages, and deaths of King and Queen, King William, and New Kent counties, Virginia, 1680-1860 Cclib
|
|
James City 1634 |
See New KentCo. |
Set. Peters & Blisland |
Yes |
yes |
The Vestry book and register of St. Peter's Parish, Virginia, 1720-1789 / New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, 1684-1786 Cclib
The Vestry book of St. Peter's, New Kent County, Va., from 1682-1758 Cclib
The Vestry book of Blisland (Blissland) Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, 1721-1786 CClib |
|
|
K&Q 1691 |
New Kent |
Stratton Major
|
|
1729-1783 |
The vestry book of Stratton Major Parish, King and Queen County, Virginia, 1729-1783 CClib
|
Vital records of three burned counties: births, marriages, and deaths of King and Queen, King William, and New Kent counties, Virginia, 1680-1860 Cclib
1704 Va Rent Rolls: Thomas Phelps, K&Q co. (our Thomas was born 1727)
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Surry 1652 |
James City |
Albemarle |
1717-1778 |
1739-78 |
Births, deaths, and sponsors, 1717-1778, from the Albemarle Parish registers of Surry and Sussex Counties Cclib
Cclib Lucy & Mary Phelps d.1757 Agnes Felts d 1769
& many Felts
|
Surry Co records 1652-1684
Surry co deeds 1684-1733 and other court records
Surry Co court records 1664-1745: Thomas Phelps 1745 misc entry
Surry Co Court records 1652-1663
Surry Wills 1671-1750: Items willed to Richard Phelps 1703 by Richard Bullock
Surry Co Deeds, wills 1694-1709 Note 1, 1709, Humphrey Felps/Phelps and wife Helen Phelps.
1704 rent rolls for Surry Co: Humphrey Phelps
|
|
Sussex 1754 |
Surry |
Albemarle |
1739-78 |
1739-78 |
Births, deaths, and sponsors, 1717-1778, from the Albemarle Parish registers of Surry and Sussex Counties Cclib Lucy & Mary Phelps d.1757 Agnes Felts d 1769
& many Felts
|
Sussex Court records 1754-1801
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King William 1702
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K&Q |
Powhatan |
1721-54 |
1707-50 |
Research this, not at cclb |
Research this, not at cclb |
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Lunenburg 1746 |
Brunswick |
Cumberland 1746-1816 Initially covered lunenburg, mecklengurg halifax, charlotte,pittsylavania, henry, patrick, farnklin |
Lost |
1746-
|
Cumberland parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia, 1746-1816 : Vestry book, 1746- Cclib John Phekps; Samuel Phelps; many Phillips |
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Halifax 1752
|
Lunenburg |
Antrim 1752-1818 |
lost |
Yes |
Antrim parish 1752-1817 |
· Halifax deed books 1752-1796Deed book 12; 3/15/1784: property on Mill Cr, Dan River. (likely James of Caswell) · Personal property tax 1782-91 1785: James Phelps >21 years old; 6 cattle, 1 horse· Plea Book 1752-1755 · History of Halifax Co. · Colonial poll and tithable lists · List of voters for Burgesses elections 1764-1769 · Marriage bonds/ministers returns 1753-1800 · Hallifax court orders · Halifax wills 1752-1796 · Land entries 1737-1770 · Halifax cemeteries · Va District courts |
|
Pittsylvania 1767 |
Halifax |
Camden 1757-1852 |
Lost |
Yes |
Camden |
Marriage bonds and ministers' returns of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 1767-1805.After initial researching I found no Phelps
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Charlotte 1764
|
Lunenburg |
Cornwall 1757 |
Lost |
Yes |
Cornwall |
After initial researching I found no Phelps
|
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Mecklenburg 1765
|
Lunenburg |
St. James 1761 |
Lost |
Yes |
St James |
After initial researching I found no Phelps
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Henry 1777 Patruck 1778 Franklin 1786 |
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Patrick 1778 |
|
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Too late for our James |
Too late for our James |
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Buckingham 1761 |
Albemarle |
Tillotson 1773-74, 1783 1785 |
|
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Not in CC or Ral |
1820 Buckingham census
James Phelps, New Canton James Phelps, New Canton Robert Phelps, New Canton William Phelps, New Canton
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Appomattox 1845 |
Buckingham & Campbell |
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Too late for our James |
Too late for our James |
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Bedford 1734 |
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Russel 1824-1881 ??? |
1824-1881 |
1824-1881 |
Needs research |
Needs research |
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Campbell 1781 |
Bedford |
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Needs research |
Needs research |
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Prince George 1703
(Bristol Parish also included Henrico & Dinwiddie Counties) |
Charles City |
Bristol 1685-1798 |
1720-1798 |
1720-1798 |
The Vestry book and register of Bristol Parish, Virginia, 1720-1789 CClib
Bristol Parish Henrico, Prince George, Dinwiddie 1720-1798 Births
Thomas and Isabel Phillips children: Thomas b 1732, William b.1736; James S. b. 9/12/1734
|
Our James was born 1730 +/-; our Thomas was born 1727 If Phillips can be considered, then this family meets the requirements for a Thomas and a James. See note 2 |
|
Brunswick 1720 |
Prince George |
St Andrews |
Lost |
1732-97 |
Need to GET THIS |
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York 1634; original name was Charles River Co. |
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Charles Parish
Parish History: (not researched) Blisland, 1653 - 1654 Bruton, by 1674 - 1785 Charles, about 1692 - 1785 Charles River, about 1634 - 1642 (name changed to York) Chiskiack, 1640 - 1643 (name changed to Hampton) Hampton, 1643 - 1707 Marston, 1654 - 1674 Middle Plantation, 1634 - 1658 Middletowne, 1658 - 1674 New Poquoson, about 1635 - 1692 York, about 1638 - 1707 Yorkhampton, 1707 - 1785
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Charles Parish Births 1648-1759; deaths 1665-1787: Ed Phelps’ servant died 10/17/1677 ; Ed Phelps died 9/23/1781 Several Phillips CCLib |
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New Kent 1654
and Hanover 1721
New Kent 1654 & James City |
York
Hanover
York |
St. Pauls
St. Pauls
St Peters
Blissland |
Lost
|
1705-1786
1684-1758 |
St Pauls register 1715-1798 cclib
St. Peters 1684-1786: no Phelps; few Phillips
Blissland 1721-1786: No Phelps |
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Stafford 1664and
King George 1721 |
Westmoreland
Richmond |
St Pauls
St Pauls |
1715-98 |
no |
Several Phillips |
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Nansemond |
|
Suffolk & Newport |
|
yes |
Suffollk Parish vestry book 1749-1784 & Newport vestry book 1724-1772 cclib
The vestry book of the Upper Parish, Nansemond County, Virginia, 1743-1793
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Isle of Wirght |
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Isle of Wright Deeds 1647-1782 cclib Isle of Wright court 1693-1695 cclib |
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Glouster 1651 |
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|
yes |
The Vestry book of Petsworth Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia, 1677-1793
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Mathews 1791 |
Glouster |
Kingston |
|
yes |
Vestry book of Kingston Parish 1679-1796 cclib |
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Henrico co. 1634 |
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Henrico Parish |
|
yes |
Vestry of Henrico 1730-1773 cclib |
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Northhampton 1634 |
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Hungar’s parish |
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Hungar’s parish 1757-1875 |
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Note 1.
1. 6 Mar 1709 Humphrey Felps (Phelps?) and wife Helen Phelps, of Southwarke Parish [Surry co] to William Land of the same for 5000 lbs tobacco… 100 aces (bought from Thomas Busby by Capt Roger Potter who sold it to George Middleton on 16 Oct 1674. Land then descended to Tomas Middleton , son and heir of George Middleton, who sold it to Humphrey Felps on 17 Sep 1688. Land is on east side of Sorthern Run adjoining John Lanier.
2. 14 Aug 1692 Humphrey Felps (Phelps?) named again relative to the Capt Potter buying land from Busby (above).
Note 2
A complete write-up on this Phillips family is at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~paday/dobbers/phillips_thomas.htm The family claims a move to Craven Co, NC – at the time extending far , far through central NC west- and his will of 1743 lists both Thomas and James - and others The writeup says “The first proven mention of our Thomas and Isabelle were the birth records of some of their children located in Bristol Parish, Prince George's County, Va.” Prince George formed from Charles City in 1703. Both are Bristol Parish. There is a 1792 Cumberland co (formed 1749 from Goochland). will of a Samuel Phelps naming a John Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps of Charles Co. as Exrs. (There is no Charles Co; instead it is Charles City See will at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vacumber/wills/sphelps.html Samuel Phelps (wife elizabeth Chamberlain) is son of John Phelps d 174 of the Goochland line according to the YDNA tested provided lineages here
From rootsweb.com Phillips Family. Bristol Parish
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/localities.northam.usa.states.virginia.counties.princegeorge/251
9/2014: Digging more I think we are looking at a dead trail for the Phelps. The url for the Thomas and isabell Phillips writeup of the move to Craven county lead to a home page and then to a DNA TESTING PROJECT link Below are comments found there - Because of their ydna testing and confidence of the move to Craven County, pretty well leaves us out I think. The Phillips ydna web site she refers to is correctly at https://www.familytreedna.com/public/phillips/default.aspx?section=ycolorized Note the groups 3 and 5 testing of men going back to origins . Of course we match none of them at all.
Family Group 5 on the Phillips Worldwide DNA chart
looks promising with regard to a Phillips family known to have lived in the
vicinity of old Dobbs County, NC [from Craven/Johnson co 1757-8 because of the
name Mason Phillips. Mason is a fairly unusual first name and there was a
Mason Phillips who died in Dobbs County, NC sometime after the 1790 census was
taken. This Mason Phillips was the second son of Thomas and Isabelle Phillips
and he was born in Bristol Parish, Prince George County, Virginia on 23 July
1728. Family Group 5 includes a descendant of another Mason Phillips who was
born 8 May 1800 in South Carolina (supposedly) and who died on 27 August 1877
in Benton County, Arkansas. Mason married Deborah Kendrick 13 February 1825 in
Lauderdale County, Alabama and subsequently moved to Arkansas via Illinois.
Family researchers long thought that the Alabama/Arkansas Mason Phillips was
probably related to John “Jack” Phillips who was born about 1784 in North
Carolina and who died in Lauderdale County, Alabama in 1868, but there was no
proof of this relationship. However, a known descendant of John “Jack”
Phillips also joined the Phillips Worldwide DNA project, and his DNA matches
the DNA of the proven descendant of Mason Phillips. If a male Phillips
descendant of Thomas and Isabelle Phillips joined the Phillips Worldwide DNA
project, we could learn whether or not the earlier North Carolina Mason
Phillips was related to the later Alabama/Arkansas Mason Phillips.
Family Group 3 on the Phillips Worldwide DNA chart also appears promising
because this family of Phillips seems to have originated in vicinity of
Charles City County/Prince George County/Brunswick County, Virginia. The
earliest identified ancestor in Family Group 3 is a Robert Phillips who died
in Charles City County, VA in 1762. There is also a Joseph Phillips who died
in Brunswick County, VA in 1777 who might well have been the brother or cousin
of Robert Phillips. Thomas and Isabelle Phillips moved from Prince George
County, VA to Craven County, NC sometime before 1743, where Thomas wrote his
will and then died. Once again, if a straight line male Phillips descendant of
Thomas and Isabelle Phillips joined the Phillips Worldwide DNA project and got
his DNA tested, we would be able to ascertain whether this branch of Phillips
belongs to either Family Group 3 or Family Group 5. Thomas and Isabelle
Phillips had the following sons: John Phillips, born 1726, Mason Phillips,
born 1728, Thomas Phillips, born about 1732, Mark Phillips, born between 1734
and 1743, and William Phillips, born between 1734 and 1743.
CCLIB = Craven Library parish books. Remaining to be researched:
1. St. George's Parish, Accomack County : vestry book, 1763- 1787\
2. Powhaton Parish
3. St Andrews parish
4. Parishes for Bedford and Campbell Counties
5. Southwark parish
6. Prince George County, Virginia : records, 1733-1792 : abstracts of the remaining County record books for the above period plus miscellaneous wills - cclb
7. Halifax and other related counties
8. Pittsylvania, Charlotte, Meck cos.
Halifax 1785 James Philips w6 dwel 1 other bldg 2
Cumberland 1782 census James Philips 5 white , 2 black