Articles & News

Historical notes, events, and genealogy columns imported from the original site — ready to expand with fresh research content.

• Virginia city* vs. county: the jurisdiction mistake that causes brick walls featured
  August 1, 2026
  Independent cities keep separate series. Charles City and James City are counties despite the names.
• Start Virginia research with the year, not the modern map featured
  July 31, 2026
  Shires, parent counties, annexations, and city incorporations re-label the same ground.
• Why LVA chancery records unlock relationships featured
  July 30, 2026
  Equity causes can name heirs, neighbors, and property disputes across decades.
• Northern Neck proprietary grants vs. royal/state patents featured
  July 28, 2026
  Region changes which land office created the paper.
• Parent-shire and city* checklist featured
  July 27, 2026
  A short checklist before you search the modern map only.
• Checking Virginia newspaper runs the right way featured
  July 26, 2026
  Title continuity is not guaranteed.
• Independent cities* — research method note featured
  July 25, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: independent cities*.
• The 1870 bridge year for African American Virginia research featured
  July 24, 2026
  Work city* and county series carefully—boundaries matter.
• Urban directories for Richmond*, Norfolk*, Roanoke* featured
  July 24, 2026
  Renters leave directory footprints.
• Same-name counties — research method note featured
  July 23, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: same-name counties.
• Independent city* research checklist featured
  July 23, 2026
  A pocket checklist for Virginia’s unique jurisdictions.
• Parent shires — research method note featured
  July 22, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: parent shires.
• Annexation traps — research method note featured
  July 21, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: annexation traps.
• How to work an LVA chancery session featured
  July 21, 2026
  Equity files name relationships deeds hide.
• Top Virginia formation traps featured
  July 21, 2026
  Modern maps lie about old courthouses.
• Year-first method — research method note featured
  July 19, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: year-first method.
• Charles City county — research method note featured
  July 19, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Charles City county.
• James City county — research method note featured
  July 18, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: James City county.
• Richmond* vs Richmond County — research method note featured
  July 17, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Richmond* vs Richmond County.
• Bedford City* reversion and series years featured
  June 27, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Bedford City* reversion and series years.
• Independent city* vs. same-name county traps featured
  June 27, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Independent city* vs. same-name county traps.
• Princess Anne into Virginia Beach* featured
  June 26, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Princess Anne into Virginia Beach*.
• Charles City and James City are counties featured
  June 25, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Charles City and James City are counties.
• Richmond* is not Richmond County featured
  June 25, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Richmond* is not Richmond County.
• Norfolk County into Chesapeake* featured
  June 24, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Norfolk County into Chesapeake*.
• Roanoke* is not Roanoke County featured
  June 24, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Roanoke* is not Roanoke County.
• Nansemond into Suffolk* featured
  June 23, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Nansemond into Suffolk*.
• Warwick into Newport News* featured
  June 22, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Warwick into Newport News*.
• Fairfax City* vs. Fairfax County featured
  June 22, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Fairfax City* vs. Fairfax County.
• Elizabeth City County into Hampton* featured
  June 20, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Elizabeth City County into Hampton*.
• Colonial shires and early Tidewater paper featured
  June 19, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Colonial shires and early Tidewater paper.
• Abstracting every name on a Virginia tithable page featured
  May 26, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Abstracting every name on a Virginia tithable page.
• City* vs. county: a one-page decision tree featured
  May 25, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: City* vs. county: a one-page decision tree.
• Charles City and James City are counties — not cities featured
  May 24, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Charles City and James City are counties — not cities.
• Princess Anne paper now under Virginia Beach* featured
  May 23, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Princess Anne paper now under Virginia Beach*.
• Richmond* clerk series vs. Richmond County paper featured
  May 23, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Richmond* clerk series vs. Richmond County paper.
• Norfolk County series under Chesapeake* featured
  May 22, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Norfolk County series under Chesapeake*.
• Nansemond paper under Suffolk* featured
  May 21, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Nansemond paper under Suffolk*.
• Roanoke* vs. Roanoke County research order featured
  May 20, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Roanoke* vs. Roanoke County research order.
• Fairfax City* vs. Fairfax County annexation edges featured
  May 19, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Fairfax City* vs. Fairfax County annexation edges.
• Bedford City* reversion: which years which clerk featured
  May 18, 2026
  Parity-depth editorial for Virginia: Bedford City* reversion: which years which clerk.
• Using Virginia Chronicle and LVA before paid databases
  July 29, 2026
  Free newspaper and manuscript stacks first.
• From Tidewater to the Valley: migration paths that leave dual paper trails
  July 28, 2026
  Wagon Road and river corridors create multi-county FAN clubs.
• From colonial parish to county clerk
  July 27, 2026
  Vestry books bridge early vitals gaps.
• Researching Richmond* without confusing Richmond County
  July 26, 2026
  Capital-city series, Henrico/Chesterfield edges, and directories.
• Civil War records for Virginia families (city* and county)
  July 25, 2026
  Sieges and occupation change who creates local paper.
• Virginia Beach* and former Princess Anne County
  July 25, 2026
  Consolidation re-labels series by year.
• Chesapeake* and historic Norfolk County
  July 24, 2026
  1963 consolidations create classic brick walls.
• Border research: Virginia with NC and TN
  July 24, 2026
  FAN clubs ignore state lines.
• What to pack for a Virginia research trip
  July 23, 2026
  City* and county offices may both be required.
• Roanoke* vs Roanoke County — research method note
  July 22, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Roanoke* vs Roanoke County.
• Fairfax City* — research method note
  July 21, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Fairfax City*.
• Probate inventories — research method note
  July 21, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: probate inventories.
• LVA chancery — research method note
  July 20, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: LVA chancery.
• Guardian bonds — research method note
  July 20, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: guardian bonds.
• Urban wards — research method note
  July 18, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: urban wards.
• Patents and surveys — research method note
  July 18, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: patents and surveys.
• Parish vestry books — research method note
  July 17, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: parish vestry books.
• Northern Neck grants — research method note
  July 17, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Northern Neck grants.
• Valley churches — research method note
  July 16, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Valley churches.
• Hampton Roads consolidations — research method note
  July 16, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Hampton Roads consolidations.
• Deed witnesses — research method note
  July 16, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: deed witnesses.
• Tidewater parishes — research method note
  July 15, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Tidewater parishes.
• Princess Anne → Virginia Beach* — research method note
  July 15, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Princess Anne → Virginia Beach*.
• Appomattox campaign context — research method note
  July 15, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Appomattox campaign context.
• Dower releases — research method note
  July 15, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: dower releases.
• Norfolk County → Chesapeake* — research method note
  July 14, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Norfolk County → Chesapeake*.
• Occupation-era clerks — research method note
  July 14, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: occupation-era clerks.
• Parole lists — research method note
  July 14, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: parole lists.
• USCT service — research method note
  July 13, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: USCT service.
• Virginia Chronicle runs — research method note
  July 13, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Virginia Chronicle runs.
• Revolutionary pensions — research method note
  July 12, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Revolutionary pensions.
• City directories — research method note
  July 12, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: city directories.
• Nansemond → Suffolk* — research method note
  July 12, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Nansemond → Suffolk*.
• 1870 bridge year — research method note
  July 12, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: 1870 bridge year.
• Tithables — research method note
  July 11, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: tithables.
• Warwick → Newport News* — research method note
  July 11, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Warwick → Newport News*.
• Enslaver clusters — research method note
  July 11, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: enslaver clusters.
• Civil War CMSRs — research method note
  July 10, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Civil War CMSRs.
• Elizabeth City County → Hampton* — research method note
  July 10, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Elizabeth City County → Hampton*.
• Free Black communities — research method note
  July 9, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: free Black communities.
• WWI draft cards — research method note
  July 9, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: WWI draft cards.
• Processioning — research method note
  July 9, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: processioning.
• Burned series substitutes — research method note
  July 9, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: burned series substitutes.
• Census city pages — research method note
  July 8, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: census city pages.
• Road orders — research method note
  July 8, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: road orders.
• Microfilm citations — research method note
  July 7, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: microfilm citations.
• Freedmen’s Bureau — research method note
  July 7, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Freedmen’s Bureau.
• Mill seats — research method note
  July 7, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: mill seats.
• Negative search logs — research method note
  July 6, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: negative search logs.
• Border KY research — research method note
  July 6, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: border KY research.
• Census county pages — research method note
  July 6, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: census county pages.
• Great Wagon Road — research method note
  July 5, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Great Wagon Road.
• Tax lists — research method note
  July 5, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: tax lists.
• Watercourses in deeds — research method note
  July 5, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: watercourses in deeds.
• Metes and bounds neighbors — research method note
  July 5, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: metes and bounds neighbors.
• Border NC research — research method note
  July 4, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: border NC research.
• Port cities — research method note
  July 4, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: port cities.
• Sexton records — research method note
  July 4, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: sexton records.
• Bible records — research method note
  July 4, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Bible records.
• Grantor indexes — research method note
  July 4, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: grantor indexes.
• Border TN research — research method note
  July 3, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: border TN research.
• Piedmont tobacco towns — research method note
  July 2, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Piedmont tobacco towns.
• Border WV research — research method note
  July 2, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: border WV research.
• Naval hospital paper — research method note
  July 2, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: naval hospital paper.
• DNA cluster mapping — research method note
  July 2, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: DNA cluster mapping.
• Market town papers — research method note
  July 1, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: market town papers.
• Endogamy cautions — research method note
  July 1, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: endogamy cautions.
• Valley German names — research method note
  June 30, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Valley German names.
• Border MD research — research method note
  June 30, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: border MD research.
• Obituary kin lists — research method note
  June 30, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: obituary kin lists.
• Migration out-of-state — research method note
  June 29, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: migration out-of-state.
• Scots-Irish corridors — research method note
  June 29, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: Scots-Irish corridors.
• Loose papers — research method note
  June 29, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: loose papers.
• Colonial capital records — research method note
  June 28, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: colonial capital records.
• Order books — research method note
  June 28, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: order books.
• Cemetery surveys — research method note
  June 28, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: cemetery surveys.
• Railroad towns — research method note
  June 27, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: railroad towns.
• Coalfield counties — research method note
  June 26, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: coalfield counties.
• General Assembly context — research method note
  June 26, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: General Assembly context.
• Northern Neck proprietary grants
  June 25, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Northern Neck proprietary grants.
• Federal court layers — research method note
  June 25, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: federal court layers.
• Equity vs law — research method note
  June 24, 2026
  Practical method note for Virginia researchers: equity vs law.
• Royal patents vs. later clerk deeds
  June 23, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Royal patents vs. later clerk deeds.
• Parish vestry books as vital substitutes
  June 23, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Parish vestry books as vital substitutes.
• LVA chancery for relationship proof
  June 22, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: LVA chancery for relationship proof.
• Valley German church registers
  June 22, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Valley German church registers.
• Chancery index session workflow
  June 21, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Chancery index session workflow.
• Scots-Irish corridor research
  June 21, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Scots-Irish corridor research.
• Market-town papers for rural notices
  June 20, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Market-town papers for rural notices.
• Urban directories for capital and ports
  June 19, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Urban directories for capital and ports.
• Equity causes that run for decades
  June 19, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Equity causes that run for decades.
• Tidewater Anglican/Episcopal registers
  June 18, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Tidewater Anglican/Episcopal registers.
• Civil War CMSR and pension pairing
  June 18, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Civil War CMSR and pension pairing.
• Processioning and land procession records
  June 18, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Processioning and land procession records.
• Baptist and Methodist circuit books
  June 17, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Baptist and Methodist circuit books.
• Naval and hospital paper in Hampton Roads
  June 17, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Naval and hospital paper in Hampton Roads.
• Tithables before federal census
  June 17, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Tithables before federal census.
• Quaker meetings and certificates of removal
  June 16, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Quaker meetings and certificates of removal.
• Appomattox campaign research caution
  June 16, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Appomattox campaign research caution.
• WWI draft cards for twentieth-century identity
  June 16, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: WWI draft cards for twentieth-century identity.
• Burned series substitutes at LVA
  June 15, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Burned series substitutes at LVA.
• Occupation-era clerk continuity
  June 15, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Occupation-era clerk continuity.
• 1870 bridge year for African American research
  June 15, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: 1870 bridge year for African American research.
• Enslaver estate clusters without surname guessing
  June 15, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Enslaver estate clusters without surname guessing.
• Microfilm citation discipline
  June 14, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Microfilm citation discipline.
• Virginia Chronicle title-run discipline
  June 14, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Virginia Chronicle title-run discipline.
• Negative search logs that matter
  June 13, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Negative search logs that matter.
• Dower release language
  June 13, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Dower release language.
• Parole lists as identity tools
  June 13, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Parole lists as identity tools.
• Free Black community sources
  June 13, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Free Black community sources.
• Guardian bonds and orphans courts
  June 12, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Guardian bonds and orphans courts.
• Revolutionary pension depositions
  June 12, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Revolutionary pension depositions.
• Marriage bonds vs. returns
  June 12, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Marriage bonds vs. returns.
• Freedmen’s Bureau locality files
  June 12, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Freedmen’s Bureau locality files.
• FAN clubs across city* and county lines
  June 11, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: FAN clubs across city* and county lines.
• City directory columns decoded
  June 11, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: City directory columns decoded.
• USCT service trails
  June 10, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: USCT service trails.
• Annexation re-labels without migration
  June 10, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Annexation re-labels without migration.
• Apprenticeship records
  June 10, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Apprenticeship records.
• Border NC research from Southside VA
  June 9, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Border NC research from Southside VA.
• Metes-and-bounds neighbor chains
  June 9, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Metes-and-bounds neighbor chains.
• Order books and loose papers
  June 9, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Order books and loose papers.
• Census city pages vs. county pages
  June 8, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Census city pages vs. county pages.
• Grantor-grantee index sessions
  June 8, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Grantor-grantee index sessions.
• 1850–1860 slave schedule pairing
  June 7, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: 1850–1860 slave schedule pairing.
• Border TN research from Southwest VA
  June 7, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Border TN research from Southwest VA.
• Watercourse names in Virginia deeds
  June 7, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Watercourse names in Virginia deeds.
• Formation acts and daughter counties
  June 6, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Formation acts and daughter counties.
• Border WV research after statehood
  June 6, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Border WV research after statehood.
• Railroad towns and place-name churn
  June 6, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Railroad towns and place-name churn.
• How to abstract a full deed page
  June 6, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: How to abstract a full deed page.
• How to abstract an inventory sale
  June 6, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: How to abstract an inventory sale.
• Border MD research from Northern Neck
  June 5, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Border MD research from Northern Neck.
• Coalfield county research notes
  June 5, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Coalfield county research notes.
• Piedmont tobacco town paper
  June 5, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Piedmont tobacco town paper.
• On-site county courthouse packing list
  June 4, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: On-site county courthouse packing list.
• Parent shire search order
  June 4, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Parent shire search order.
• Camera policies and citation photos
  June 3, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Camera policies and citation photos.
• Multi-county estates straddling lines
  June 3, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Multi-county estates straddling lines.
• Border KY research from far west VA
  June 3, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Border KY research from far west VA.
• Using Encyclopedia Virginia for context only
  June 3, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Using Encyclopedia Virginia for context only.
• Occupation changes as migration clues
  June 2, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Occupation changes as migration clues.
• Great Wagon Road into the Valley
  June 2, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Great Wagon Road into the Valley.
• Using LVA research guides efficiently
  June 2, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Using LVA research guides efficiently.
• When two same-name men share a parish
  June 1, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: When two same-name men share a parish.
• Port-city migration networks
  June 1, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Port-city migration networks.
• FamilySearch catalog filters that save time
  May 31, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: FamilySearch catalog filters that save time.
• Surname variants in Valley clerks
  May 31, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Surname variants in Valley clerks.
• Widows and remarriage paper trails
  May 31, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Widows and remarriage paper trails.
• Citation formats that survive review
  May 31, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Citation formats that survive review.
• Given-name swaps and middle initials
  May 30, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Given-name swaps and middle initials.
• Step-kin and blended households
  May 30, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Step-kin and blended households.
• Avoiding battle books as vital substitutes
  May 29, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Avoiding battle books as vital substitutes.
• On-site city clerk packing list
  May 29, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: On-site city clerk packing list.
• Church burial societies
  May 29, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Church burial societies.
• Using on-this-day anchors without overclaiming
  May 28, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Using on-this-day anchors without overclaiming.
• Planning a multi-jurisdiction research week
  May 28, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Planning a multi-jurisdiction research week.
• Building a decade timeline per person
  May 28, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: Building a decade timeline per person.
• When paid databases actually help
  May 27, 2026
  Editorial method depth for Virginia researchers: When paid databases actually help.