The Destruction of Home and Hearth #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The Destruction of Home and Hearth after the Wars

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin 

Did you know that during the Revolutionary War that tombstones in local cemeteries were vandalized? In Virginia, St. John's Episcopal Church in the village of Chuckatuck was thoroughly vandalized after the war, and tombstones of Loyalists removed! The church has stood for some 375 years and served as one of three parish houses in old Nansemond County. Englishmen were required to attend church, pay tithing (in tobacco), work on roads, and perform other church services. Virginians were industrious sorts, more interested in their tobacco crops than community worship service. In fact, they spent more money on the out buildings and crops than they did the actual manor house. This could provide one reason for the vandalizing, plus the cruelties imposed by the British and dire economic effects during British occupation. Whatever the reason much is lost. But so much more worse than the war as being a reason to vandalize, are the hateful groups of protesters today who know nothing of the past and destroy the monumental records of former generations. . . . more . . .

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The Library of William Byrd #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The Library of William Byrd at Westover

William Byrd was known as one of the most eminent men of affairs in Old Virginia. His father came to Virginia a few years before the Rebellion of Nathaniel Bacon, and bought the famous estate of Westover on the James River and in Charles City County. For anyone who has visited this old plantation, it yet stands in its magnificence amongst a flora of English holly bushes. Colonel Byrd inherited a vast estate from his uncle which included the present site of Richmond. He sympathized strongly with his neighbor, Nathaniel Bacon, and held a command under him; but after the collapse of the rebellion he succeeded in making his peace with the angry Royal Governor Berkeley. Byrd soon became one of the most important men in the colony, and was commissioned receiver-general of the royal revenues. Upon his death in 1704, his son succeeded him in this office. The son studied law in the Middle Temple and was made a fellow of the Royal Society. Also, he served on the Colonial Council for many years. He lived in the gracious splendor of his estate of Westover where it was known that he accumulated a library. The library contained 3,625 volumes, classified nearly as follows: History, 700; Classics, etc., 650; French, 550; Law, 350; Divinity, 300; Medicine, 200; 245 Scientific, 225; Entertaining, etc., 650.229. This must have been one of the largest collections of books made in the colonial period. In 1727 he was one of the commissioners for determining the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina. In the journeys connected with that work he selected the sites where the towns of Richmond and Petersburg were after wards built; and he wrote a narrative of his proceedings so full of keen observations on the people and times as to make it an extremely valuable contribution to history.

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The Dress of Planters and their Wives #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The Dress of Planters and their Wives

In Colonial Virginia, most articles of dress for well-to-do men and women were imported and London fashions strictly observed. In the time of the Rebellion of Nathaniel Bacon(1676), the gentlemen wore London styles, such as a coat and breeches of olive plush or dark red broadcloth, with embroidered waistcoat, shirt of blue holland, long silk stockings, silver buttons and shoe-buckles, lace ruffles about neck and wrists, and his head encumbered with a flowing wig. The Lady of the house might have worn a crimson satin bodice trimmed with point lace, a black tabby petticoat and silk hose, with shoes of fine leather gallooned; her lace headdress would be secured with a gold bodkin, and she would be apt to wear earrings, a pearl necklace, and finger-rings with rubies or diamonds, and to carry a fan.

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The First Virginia Militia #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The First Virginia Militia

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin 

The first militia in Virginia was form in 1607, upon the arrival of new settlers from England. After the all-out-war during 1623 of Chief Powhatan against all Virginians and the massacre of a great number of colonists, the Virginia General Assembly gave its command, viz: " that men go not to work in the ground without their arms; That no man go or send abroad without a sufficient partie well armed." Further, during 1661 Governor William Berkeley stated that "All our freemen are bound to be trained every month in their particular counties." Thus, from the very earliest of days, it became necessary to carry guns and protect the colonists and this was done by forming Militia Companies in every inhabited area. The free land grants helped to populate the colony, however, even up unto the 19th century, the Militia was protecting citizens against Indians. It is always a good idea to research the history and time-frame of a given area to understand the situation.

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Genealogy Holiday Discount

Over the holiday we are offering a discount for 1-year's membership in Georgia Pioneers (8 genealogy websites) for $135.00 (instead of $150.00).  To take advantage now please click here

Offer expires Monday, May 27th!

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Index to Virginia Wills and Estates. See Names

Genealogy Holiday Discount

Over the holiday we are offering a discount for 1-year's membership in Georgia Pioneers (8 genealogy websites) for $135.00 (instead of $150.00).  To take advantage now please click here

Offer expires Monday, May 27th!

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Index to Virginia Wills and Estates. See Names

The Love of Horse-Racing #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The Love of Horse-Racing

In their fondness for horses the Virginians were true children of England. In the stables of wealthy planters were to be found specimens of the finest breeds and everyone enjoyed a good horse race. Common folk, however, were not allowed to take part in the sport, except as lookers-on. One of the earliest references to horse-racing is an order of the county court of York in 1674: "James Bullocke, a Taylor, haveing made a race for his mare to run with a horse belonging to Mr. Mathew Slader for twoe thousand pounds of tobacco and cask, it being contrary to Law for a Labourer to make a race, being a sport only for Gentlemen, is fined for the same one hundred pounds of tobacco and caske." Yet, by 1740, almost every ordinary person kept a horse and would ride their horses two or three miles to church, the court house, or to a horse race. And by 1770, there were races at Williamsburg twice a year. Adjoining to the town was a course for either two, three, or four mile heats and the purse was generally raised by subscription and are gained by the horse that wins two four-mile heats out of three. The purse the first day amounted to as much as one hundred pounds.

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Virginians who Attended Oxford University #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Virginians who Attended Oxford University

Augustine Washington and his son Lawrence, the young Virginians were sent to school in England. More often, however, the education began at the country school or with private tutors and was "finished" (as the phrase goes) at one of the English universities. Oxford seems to have been the favorite Alma Mater.Young James Madison, however, was first tutored by the parish minister and an excellent Scotch schoolmaster and later sent to Princeton College where he was graduated in 1772.

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"Oak Lawn" near Lynchburg #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Oak Lawn

Oak Lawn, also known as Burford House, is located at Madison Heights near Lynchburg in Amherst County. The original section of the clapboard farm house was built about 1810, and later enlarged about 1859. It is a two-story, three bay, frame dwelling with weatherboard siding and four exterior end chimneys. It has Federal and Greek Revival-style design elements. Also on the property is a late-19th century latticed well house. The house and gardens are situated on six acres of land and overlooks Tobacco Row Mountain, an outlier of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

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Candle-Making in the Mountains #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Candle-Making in the Mountains

During the 17th century candles were used to illuminate homes. The myrtle plant was the most popular owing to the clear light which it gave. The plant grew plentifully in the marshes and swamps and its berries could be gathered in great quantities and converted by boiling into wax

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Sweet Chalybeate Springs #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Sweet Chalybeate Springs

Sweet Chalybeate Springs (also known as the Red Sweet Springs, Sweet Chalybeate Hotel and Sweet Chalybeate Springs Lodge) is a historic resort hotel complex which was built and developed at the bottom of a small rock bluff. It was built during the 1850s and consists of a main building, guest cottages all fronted with two-level porches. There are a total of eight contributing buildings and one contributing structure. The main building is a gable roof, weather boarded, frame structure 12 bays long and 2 bays deep. Sweet Chalybeate suffered decline and finally closed its doors in 1918.

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Gumption and Bravery #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Gumption and Bravery

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin 

While it is true that many poor Germans, Scotch, Irish and Swiss settlers crossed the seas to settle a wilderness plain, it took a lot of gumption, and then bravery to fight the battle of freedom. All Indian tribes were not friendly, and made it a practice to steal, massacre and take young girls as slaves. As one settler in the Allegheny Mountains said (in his last will and testament) "My two daughters were stolen by the Indians. If they should ever return, I want them provided for."

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Which was Better - Beef or Bacon? #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Which was Better: Beef or Bacon?

The beef consumed in the Virginia colony was more lean than English meat. A cow or an ox designed for the butcher was allowed to run wild in the woods and was fed a little straw during the winter months. When spring finally arrived and the animal could graze on grass, it was quite lean. Nevertheless, pork was a different situation. Many hogs were raised on the farms and plantations and enjoyed by the colonists. In fact, before the close of the 17th century bacon was considered to be equal to that of Westphalia, the most celebrated town in the world for tasty bacon. Source: Clayton's Virginia, page 36. 

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Oldest Pensioner of War of 1812 #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Oldest Pensioner of the War of 1812 in the U. S.

"George S. Rogers is one of the oldest pensioned in the U. S. and is also one of the oldest Methodist ministers. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1793 and while very young went with his relatives to Kentucky where he lived when the War of 1812 broke out. He at once volunteered and went into the ranks of Captain V. S. Grayson's Company in a Kentucky regiment. He served through the war without being wounded and then returned to Kentucky where he has since lived." Source:The Jones Highlight, Gray's Station, Georgia. February 4, 1888. Skirmish between Virginia Militia and British in 1812 Why the War of 1812 is Rarely Discussed 

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The Washington Farms : Ferry Farm and Mountain Vernon #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

The Washington Farms : Ferry Farm and Mount Vernon

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The Reason for Sudden Marriages #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

17th Century Ceremonies: The Reason for Sudden Remarriages

The loss of a spouse prompted a re-marriage. Instances of persons having been married three times was not unusual. Because there were few women in the colony, as soon as the funeral celebration commenced, prospective suitors needing wives plotted their courtship. Gifts were made to the daughters in the form of land. It was customary for him to insert in the deed conveying the gift, a clause providing for what should be done with the gift in the event she should become a wife before she reached her sixteenth year. Women who had not yet passed their twelfth year were considered immature. Most women were married at such an immature age that they became broken in health, and 
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Freeholders who Took Indian Canoes were Subject to a Whipping #virginiapioneersnet #vagenealogy

Freeholders who Took Indian Canoes were Subject to a Whipping

Some colonists did not hesitate to take the canoes from the Indians, which they may or may not have returned. On one occasion the King of the Rappahanna demanded the return of a canoe, which was restored. For this reason, laws were enacted by the General Assembly in August of 1619 protecting the property o the Indians. "He that shall take away by violence or stealth any canoe or other things from the Indians, shall make valuable restitution to the said Indians, and shall forfeit, if he be a freeholder, five pounds; if a servant, forty shillings or endure a whipping

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Reasons to Personally Examine Old Documents #genealogy

Good Reasons to Personally Examine Old Documents

Genealogy Tips by Jeannette Holland Austin

People write some interesting stuff in their wills! Before we had the Internet, a convenient method of discovering the heirs was to read "abstracts" of wills, estates, deeds and marriages which were published in book. This tremendous undertaking by the authors of genealogy was insurmountable in brilliance. It saved the researcher a great deal of time. But now that we have access Internet to full documents on Georgia Pioneers. Reading the entire document is a boon to genealogists for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the heirs are mentioned with the details of their specific inheritance, and relationship to the deceased. Second, some of our previous assumptions taken from the abstracts can be clarified. Third, we can discover new information. And fourth, all the details are included, some of which the abstracter did not include because it was not clearly discernible on the old microfilm equipment. _____________________________________________________________________________ Images of Old Wills and Estates are available on (8 Genealogy Websites - includes records in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia).

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Virginia Military Institute #vagenealogy #virginiapioneersnet

Virginia Military Institute

Cadets of the Virginia Military Institute patrol the Shenandoah Valley.

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The Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg #virginiapioneersnet #vagenealogy

Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg

The Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg was the favorite gathering place for legislators after the Royal Governors officially dissolved the House of Burgesses. It was constructed before the Revolutionary War and rebuilt ca 1930. Depicted in a drawing by Mary Vaulconer. 

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