There are many very good books that deal with the Tidewater area. One of the best is TIDEWATER VIRGINIA FAMILIES, by Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis.
In trying
to trace our ancestors from the early times in Virginia, we have learned to find the
counties in existence for the time period we are searching. This is for 1634
- 1757 only. |
Here is a
break down of the counties, when they were formed and from what other counties |
The Original Counties of Virginia in 1634
| Accawmack Co. | renamed Northampton 1642/3 | records transferred |
| Northumberland | formed from Chickacoan Indian District - 1645/8 | |
| Charles River Co. | later named York County 1641/2 | records transferred to York Co. |
| New Norfolk Co. | Split into Upper & Lower Norfolk in 1637 | |
| Lower Norfolk Co. | abolished in 1691 | records housed in City of Chesapeake |
| Upper Norfolk Co. | renamed Nansemond, 1642/3 | records transferred |
| Elizabeth City Co. | records now found in City of Hampton (1952) | |
| Warwick River Co. | renamed Warwick 1642/3 -then incorp. with city of Warwick in 1951 & | merged with City of Newport News in 1958 - all records transferred |
| Isle of Wight Co. | was Warrosquyoake, renamed in 1637 | |
| James City Co. | ||
| Charles City Co. | ||
| Henrico Co. |
In 1651-1660 new counties were formed from the above and I will try to detail the Tidewater counties. Other counties will be dealt with on the VA/MD page. Just remember, this is a guide only and I can be easily confused when dealing with all of the splits, etc. So be sure to recheck when looking for your old records. |
| Princess Ann Co. | 1691 - from Lower Norfolk - 1963 merged & records transferred to/with City of Virginia Beach |
| Norfolk Co. | 1691 - from Lower Norfolk - 1963 merged & records transferred to/with City of Chesapeake - Some records may also be in City of Portsmouth |
| Richmond Co. | 1691 - from Old Rappanock |
| King & Queen | 1691 - from New Kent |
| Prince George Co. | 1702 - from Charles City |
| Hanover Co. | 1721 - from New Kent |
| Goochland Co. | 1728 - from Henrico |
| Louisa Co. | 1742 - from Hanover |
| Augusta Co. | 1745 - from Orange Co. |
| Albemarle Co. | 1744 - from Goochland Co. |
| Cumberland Co. | 1749 - from Goochland Co. |
| Buckingham Co. | 1761 - from Albemarle Co. |
| Cumberland Co. | 1749 - Goochland Co. ** Shadrach Woodson |
| Henry Co. | 1779 - Henry Co. ** Shadrach Woodson |
| Campbell Co. | 1782 - Bedford Co. ** Shadrach Woodson ** Leonard Hall |
| Franklin Co. | 1785/6 - Franklin Co. ** Shadrach Woodson |
