Anyone In Virginia? Help With Some Research

dennee · 4th May 2006, 09:03 PM

I checked the Library of Virginia site to see what they have regarding Prince George County. With regard to those counties whose courthouses were burned or otherwise destroyed during the Civil War, it says:

"Several Virginia counties, most of them in the eastern part of the state, have suffered tremendous loss of their early records during the intense military activity that occurred during the Civil War, and others lost records in fires. At some point, almost everyone conducting genealogical or historical research will face the problem of finding information from a so-called "Burned Record county." Burned record counties might be grouped into three basic categories: Hopeless, Almost Hopeless, and Difficult. Included in the Hopeless category are James City, New Kent, Buckingham, Nansemond, Dinwiddie (before 1782), Appomattox, Buchanan, King and Queen, Warwick, and Henrico (before 1677). Almost Hopeless are Hanover, Prince George, Elizabeth City, and Gloucester."

Mark · 5th May 2006, 03:40 PM

This might be more complicated, but could be less complicated. One of those pieces of information says that his father owned several plantations in Antigua and served on Antigua's Council, etc. There is no Antigua in Virginia, so perhaps (and likely) the reference is to the island of Antigua, a British possession in the Caribbean. In that case, he probably grew up on Antigua, and not in Virginia. It also easily explains why he joined the British Navy and not the Revolutionary army (only one ship in the "Navy"

), though it is possible that his family were Loyalists in the colonies.

By coincidence, Lord Nelson came to Antigua in 1784 to develop Naval facilities on the island: http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghis01.htm. The American Revolution officially ended on January 14, 1784, but perhaps Nelson picked up this young sailor when he left Antigua?

Assuming his family lived first in Virginia, then moved to Antigua, and not the reverse, I suggest extending the search to Antigua. Finding out the exact place of his birth in Virginia will probably not be possible with such scant information, especially if the family moved to Antigua afterwards.

4th May 2006, 09:03 PM	#1
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	I checked the Library of Virginia site to see what they have regarding Prince George County. With regard to those counties whose courthouses were burned or otherwise destroyed during the Civil War, it says: "Several Virginia counties, most of them in the eastern part of the state, have suffered tremendous loss of their early records during the intense military activity that occurred during the Civil War, and others lost records in fires. At some point, almost everyone conducting genealogical or historical research will face the problem of finding information from a so-called "Burned Record county." Burned record counties might be grouped into three basic categories: Hopeless, Almost Hopeless, and Difficult. Included in the Hopeless category are James City, New Kent, Buckingham, Nansemond, Dinwiddie (before 1782), Appomattox, Buchanan, King and Queen, Warwick, and Henrico (before 1677). Almost Hopeless are Hanover, Prince George, Elizabeth City, and Gloucester."

5th May 2006, 03:40 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	This might be more complicated, but could be less complicated. One of those pieces of information says that his father owned several plantations in Antigua and served on Antigua's Council, etc. There is no Antigua in Virginia, so perhaps (and likely) the reference is to the island of Antigua, a British possession in the Caribbean. In that case, he probably grew up on Antigua, and not in Virginia. It also easily explains why he joined the British Navy and not the Revolutionary army (only one ship in the "Navy" ), though it is possible that his family were Loyalists in the colonies. By coincidence, Lord Nelson came to Antigua in 1784 to develop Naval facilities on the island: http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghis01.htm. The American Revolution officially ended on January 14, 1784, but perhaps Nelson picked up this young sailor when he left Antigua? Assuming his family lived first in Virginia, then moved to Antigua, and not the reverse, I suggest extending the search to Antigua. Finding out the exact place of his birth in Virginia will probably not be possible with such scant information, especially if the family moved to Antigua afterwards.