Cyndi's List
The most complete and best organized collection of links for genealogists. A section for beginners & lots of free how-to information
U. S. GenNet
A non-profit historical-genealogical web hosting service with links to some private domain, independent, and surname sites.
The history of the free African American community as told through the family history of most African Americans who were free in the Southeast during the colonial period. This site includes about 2,000 pages of family histories based on colonial court records plus another 2000 pages of abstracted tax lists, census records, etc.
Free Surname Search
Many links to free websites with Virginia data including a list of free sites organized by County.
Census Online
This site includes links to more than 40,000 free transcribed or digitized census records from the U.S. and Canada. Some counties even have transcriptions of tax lists and the 1883 Pensioners Roll. A helpful resource for ease in accessing important census records.
1930 U.S. Census Occupation Codes
The occupation codes have been summarized from the 200+ page 1930 Census Bureau publication "Classified Index of Occupations". These codes were put on the census pages well after the enumeration was done, and therefore provide no additional information. However, sometimes knowing the code can help you determine the occupation in cases where the quality of the microfilm is poor or the handwriting of the enumerator is difficult to read.
Hening's Statutes
A collection of all the Laws of Virginia from the first session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 to the year 1792. Probably your best bet for understanding what Virginia laws were in effect during a particular period of time. This on-line database contains a transcription of all 13 volumes and has an index of persons mentioned.
Obituary Central
1993-2001. Obituary Central is an obituary database for finding obituaries and performing cemetery searches. This site contains links to several obituary websites.
ObitsArchive
1977 to present. ObitsArchive.com is the largest and most comprehensive collection of newspaper obituaries and death notices in the United States. Each obituary or death notice is indexed by the name of the deceased person, to make searching easier and more precise. In addition, the text of each obituary or death notice is searchable, making it easy to find just what you're looking for using a place of residence, occupation, names of family members, or other personal information. Free searches, fee for download of complete obituary
Obit Finder
February 2001 to present. Death notices and obituaries for 60 percent of Americans who die each year.
UVa Genealogical Resources Guide
This web site is intended to be the 3rd edition of the classic Virginia Genealogy that was compiled and published by UVa Library staff in 1983. This new edition adds several new sections, such as maps, as well as including selected web sites devoted to genealogy. A new section has been added entitled Help for Beginning Genealogists which includes some basic instructional sites and resources.
On-Line Public Records Database
Search System links to collections of property, court and vital records; professionsal licenses; maps; and more. The best way to use this site is to browse by location. This database is constantly updated so check back often or sign up for the site's free e-mail newsletter.
U.S. Census Transcriptions
An index to on-line US census transcriptions compiled by volunteers of the US GenWeb Census Project
Virginia Heritage is a union database of finding aids to archival and manuscripts collections in twenty-seven Virginia repositories. The contents of the database represent only a small percentage of each institution's holdings.
Primogeniture Explanation
A layman's explanation of colonial inheritance laws. Useful in determining who inherited land when land was acquired after a will was written, a landowner died intestate, or a will failed to dispose of all the testator's lands.
Virginia Freedman's Bureau Field Office Records
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (often called the Freedmen’s Bureau) was created in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War to supervise relief efforts including education, health care, food and clothing, refugee camps, legalization of marriages, employment, labor contracts, and securing back pay, bounty payments and pensions. These records include letters and endorsements sent and received, account books, applications for rations, applications for relief, court records, labor contracts, registers of bounty claimants, registers of complaints, registers of contracts, registers of disbursements, registers of freedmen issued rations, registers of patients, reports, rosters of officers and employees, special and general orders and circulars received, special orders and circulars issued, records relating to claims, court trials, property restoration, and homesteads. This collection corresponds with NARA microfilm publication M1913, Records of the Field Offices for the State of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872.
