STP Records Room

Welcome to the Records Room of the Southampton Transcription Project.

Here you can and images and transcripts of earliest records of Southampton County, Virginia. In 2009, county records from the establishment of the county in 1749 through the early 1880s were digitized, indexed, and place on-line. STP later added images from the Library of Virginia that extend the collection of records through the early 20th century. More recently, STP has augments the collection to include obituaries and Church records as well as some records from other counties.
At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, in cooperation with Circuit Court Clerk, Richard Francis, volunteers of the Brantley Association of America digitized most of the Southampton County court book collection from 1749 through the early 1880s and recruited volunteers across the nation to index some 60,000 pages, involving approximately one million names. The effort has been named "The Southampton Project" (SoHP). All the images and initial indexes are products of the SoHP are available online for free.

This unique resource for genealogical research of was created by Kenneth Brantley and the with the cooperation the honorable , Clerk of Southampton County, Virginia Circuit Court, the , and a team of volunteer researchers. Mr. Brantley organized the photographic digitization and indexing of the court records from 1749 through the early 1880s of Southampton County, Virginia. Mr Brantley calls this collection “The Southampton Files.”

This web page has direct links in the table below to images of the records of Southampton County, but also provides access to enhanced versions of the Brantley Association files as well as some images of the Southampton County records at the Library of Virginia (LVA).

The "Enhanced Index" links in the table below provides access to new versions of the Brantley Association or LVA images. The original images have been converted to black and white and enhanced for clarity if in our judgement the source images benefit from image enhancement. The "Enhanced Index" also links to reformatted indices that directly link to the our enhanced images in a browser for rapid scanning and download.

For the purposes of STP, the most important link in the table is "Transcript". Clicking on "View" in the "Transcript" column displays a table of contents for corresponding book. Each table of contents gives the names of people and places on each page the book as well as a link to the transcript (if any) and associated image. For more info on transcripts, see this page. The utility of the STP site relies on you and your willingness to share your genealogical research.

The value of the STP relies on genealogical researchers like you. We welcome contributions of transcripts to expand our searchable collection. This web page has direct links in the table below to images of the records of Southampton County, but also provides access to enhanced versions of the Brantley Association files as well as some images of the Southampton County records at the Library of Virginia (LVA).

Table of records archived by the Southampton Transcription Project (STP)

Table of Contents
Source Vital Records Years Pages Brantley
Gallery		 Brantley
Image Index		 STP Enhanced Index STP
Transcripts
BA Birth Records 1853-1870 890 View View View View
BA Death Records ( Work in progress ) 1853-1890 461 View Coming Coming
LVA Birth Register (1881-1889 incomplete) 1853-1893 472 View View
LVA Birth Records ( Partially indexed ) 1853-1859 43 View View
LVA Birth Records ( Partially indexed ) 1860-1869 95 View View
LVA Birth Records ( Partially indexed ) 1870-1879 117 View View
LVA Birth Records ( Partially indexed ) 1880-1889 157 View View
LVA Birth Records ( Work in progress ) 1890-1896 123 View View
LVA Death Records 1853-1896 266 View View
Source Marriage Records Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Marriage Register 1750-1853 729 View View View View
LVA Marriage Register 1751-1853 145 N/A M/A View View
BA Marriage Register 1853-1872 46 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 1 1850-1861 87 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 1A 1861-1872 498 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 2 1872-1876 515 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 3 1876-1879 487 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 4 1879-1882 500 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 5 1882-1886 554 View View View View
BA Marriage Book 6 1886-1890 594 View View View View
STP Marriage Book 7 1890-1893 593 View View
STP Marriage Book 8 1893-1896 1895 View View
STP Marriage Book 9 1896-1899 579 View View
STP Marriage Book 10 1899-1902 637 View View
STP Marriage Book 11 1902-1904 1904 View View
STP Marriage Book 12 1904-1907 601 View View
STP Marriage Book 13 1907-1910 603 View View
STP Marriage Book 14 1910-1912 608 View View
STP Marriage Book 15 1912-1915 598 View View
STP Marriage Book 16 1915-1917 604 View View
STP Marriage Book 17 1917-1920 602 View View
STP Marriage Book 18 1920-1922 609 View View
STP Marriage Book 19 1922-1924 603 View View
STP Marriage Book 20 1924-1927 611 View View
Source Will Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Will Book 1 1747-1762 535 View View View View
BA Will Book 2 1762-1772 510 View View View View
BA Will Book 3 1772-1783 439 View View View View
BA Will Book 3 Guardianship 1772-1782 87 View View View View
BA Will Book 4 1783-1797 840 View View View View
BA Will Book 5 1797-1804 551 View View View View
BA Will Book 6 1804-1810 755 View View View View
BA Will Book 7 1810-1815 463 View View View View
BA Will Book 8 1815-1818 540 View View View View
BA Will Book 9 1812-1828 376 View View View View
BA Will Book 10 1825-1832 412 View View View View
BA Will Book 11 1832-1837 610 View View View View
BA Will Book 11A 1833-1897 231 View View View View
BA Will Book 12 1837-1842 606 View View View View
BA Will Book 13 1842-1847 684 View View View View
BA Will Book 14 1847-1852 658 View View View View
BA Will Book 15 1852-1857 714 View View View View
BA Will Book 16 1857-1860 704 View View View View
BA Will Book 17 1860-1863 721 View View View View
BA Will Book 18 1863-1867 696 View View View View
BA Will Book 19 1867-1874 732 View View View View
BA Will Book 20 1874-1881 743 View View View View
Source Deed Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Deed Book 1 1749-1753 524 View View View View
BA Deed Book 2 1753-1760 358 View View View View
BA Deed Book 3 1763-1767 456 View View View View
BA Deed Book 4 1767-1773 551 View View View View
BA Deed Book 5 1773-1775 517 View View View View
BA Deed Book 6 1775-1787 382 View View View View
BA Deed Book 7 1787-1793 844 View View View View
BA Deed Book 8 1793-1798 734 View View View View
BA Deed Book 9 1798-1802 645 View View View View
BA Deed Book 10 1802-1805 537 View View View View
BA Deed Book 11 1805-1809 647 View View View View
BA Deed Book 12 1809-1812 446 View View View View
BA Deed Book 13 1812-1814 359 View View View View
BA Deed Book 14 1814-1816 435 View View View View
BA Deed Book 15 1816-1818 445 View View View View
BA Deed Book 16 1818-1819 356 View View View View
BA Deed Book 17 1819-1820 354 View View View View
BA Deed Book 18 1821-1822 540 View View View View
BA Deed Book 19 1822-1826 529 View View View View
BA Deed Book 20 1826-1828 482 View View View View
BA Deed Book 21 1828-1831 551 View View View View
BA Deed Book 22 1831-1833 469 View View View View
BA Deed Book 23 1833-1836 713 View View View View
BA Deed Book 24 1836-1840 561 View View View View
BA Deed Book 25 1840-1843 682 View View View View
BA Deed Book 26 1843-1846 603 View View View View
BA Deed Book 27 1846-1850 595 View View View View
BA Deed Book 28 1850-1851 709 View View View View
BA Deed Book 29 1851-1860 653 View View View View
BA Deed Book 30 1860-1870 692 View View View View
BA Deed Book 31 1870-1874 704 View View View View
BA Deed Book 32 1874-1877 697 View View View View
BA Deed Book 33 1877-1879 656 View View View View
BA Deed Book 34 1879-1880 592 View View View View
BA Deed Book 35 1880-1881 664 View View View View
Source /Court Order Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Court Order Book 1749-1754 521 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1754-1759 538 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1759-1763 319 View View View View
BA Court Order Book > (A & B) 1768-1772 541 A or B View View View
BA Court Order Book > (A & B) 1772-1777 503 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1778-1784 517 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1784-1788 503 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1802-1803 449 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1803-1805 551 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1805-1807 80 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1807-1808 217 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1811-1812 80 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1814-1816 460 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1816-1819 556 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1819-1822 437 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1822-1824 406 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1824-1824 119 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1824-1830 359 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1835-1839 535 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1839-1843 703 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1843-1849 745 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1870-1875 702 View View View View
BA Court Order Book 1875-1881 524 View View View View
Source Court Minute Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Court Minute Book 1771-1772
BA Court Minute Book 1776-1811
LVA Court Minute Book 1775-1776 52 View View
BA Court Minute Book 1786-1790 270 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1790-1793 103 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1793-1799 435 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1799-1803 355 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1804-1806 277 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1806-1809
BA Court Minute Book 1809-1813 169 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book (Addendum) 1809-1813 86 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1813-1816 355 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1816-1819 556 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1819-1824 368 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1830-1835 412 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1835-1842 465 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1842-1848 473 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1848-1855 616 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1855-1861 576 View View View View
BA Court Minute Book 1861-1870 631 View View View View
Source Guardianship Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Guardianships 1751-1772 241 View View View View
BA Guardianships 1798-1836 387 View View View View
BA Guardianships 1776-1810 434 View View View View
BA Guardianships 1848-1857 527 View View View View
Source Chancery Records Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Southampton County Chancery Records 1832-1858 494 View View View View
BA Southampton County Chancery Records 1859-1882 662 View View View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1740-1769 96 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1770-1799 393 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1800-1819 745 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1820-1829 438 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1830-1839 429 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1840-1849 388 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1850-1859 373 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1860-1869 198 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1870-1879 410 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1880-1889 243 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1890-1899 297 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1900-1909 328 View View
LVA Southampton County Chancery Records 1910-1919 51 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1740-1800 295 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1800-1819 631 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1820-1829 287 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1830-1839 ? View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1840-1849 255 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1850-1859 143 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1860-1869 124 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1870-1879 262 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1880-1889 181 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1890-1899 153 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1900-1909 215 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1910-1919 200 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1920-19209 223 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1930-1939 239 View View
LVA IOW County Chancery Records 1940-1949 151 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1860-1869 79 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1870-1879 160 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1880-1889 157 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1890-1899 250 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1900-1909 351 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1910-1919 257 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1920-1929 235 View View
LVA Nansemond County Chancery Records 1930-1949 405 View View
Source Census Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
STP 1850 Nottoway Parish 1850 104 View View
STP 1850 St Lukes Parish 1850 104 View View
Source Church Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
STP Black Water Monthly Meeting 1752-1809 29 View View
Source Miscellaneous Books Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
BA Commission of Safety 1775-1776 49 View View View View
BA Procession Map Book 1826-1836 72 View View View View
BA Voter Registration Book 1902 65 View View View View
LVA Confederate Pensions 1900 ??? View View
LVA Confederate Pensions 1902 866 View View
STP Obituaries 1750-Present 1463 View
Source References Years Pages Brantley Gallery Image Index Enhanced Index Transcripts
STP 17th Century Isle of Wight County Virginia 1600-1700 761 View View
STP Cavaliers and Pioneers Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800 576 View View
STP Persons Lineage by George Fuller Walker 1623-1905 194 View
STP Southampton Bi-Centennial Program 1749-1949 40 View View
STP Southampton Folklore by Mrs John E Beale 1749-1900 60 Articles View
STP The Story of the Myricks 1200-1952 254 View

The records of Southampton County are remarkably complete. They have suffered neither the vicissitudes of nature nor man. The records in this collection include:

  1. Birth Records from 1853 to 1896
    Before 1853, births were not recorded in VA. In 1853 a law was passed requiring counties to record births. Not all counties complied or continued to record them on a consistent basis; and, in some counties, birth registers during the Civil War period (1861-1865) are incomplete. Fortunately, the Southampton County records appear to be exceptionally complete.

    This collection includes both the images from the Brantley files and the Library of Virginia. The Brantley files show the first recorded birth in Southampton County is in Oct 1853, a slave named Simpson born to mother Mary and owned by A B Urquhart. These birth records appear in order when the birth was reported to the county. The LVA files are the annual report provided to the State of Virginia by the county. The LVA records seem to be more complete than the Brantley files. For example, Elliot Williams is the first entry in the LVA files but does not appear in the Brantley files.

    Note: Records in the LVA collection end with the year 1896 and are included on the STP site; however, only records before 1881 have been indexed.

  2. Death Records from 1853 to 1896
    From 1853 to 1896, the state required county officials to record births and deaths. The death records of Southampton County appears to be a spreadsheet, but there is not and index to these records. The Library of Virginia has a Death Record index.
  3. Marriage records from 1750 to 1927
    From the earliest days on the county, court clerks have maintained a register of marriages. In 1853 a state law was established requiriring the clerk of the court in the county or independent city to issue marriage licenses and keep marriage records. Couples applying for a license provided the following information for the bride and groom. (Beginning in 1858, a standard form was used.)
    1. Full names
    2. Ages
    3. Places of birth and residence
    4. Proposed marriage date and place
    5. Whether single or widowed
    6. Parents' names
    7. Groom's occupation
    8. Minister's name
    After the certificate was completed, the clerk issued a license. When the marriage was performed, the minister returned the information to the clerk, who recorded it in the county or city marriage records or registers. For many counties the certificates no longer exist, but the county marriage record Book generally provide the marriage information and the parents' names.

    The records of Southampton County included in this repository include

    1. Two Book of Marriage Registries covering 1750-1853 and 1853-1872.
    2. One Book of certificates covering 1850-1861 (handwritten and not on standard form)
    3. Seven Book of licenses covering 1861-1890 (on standard forms)
    The first recorded license in Southampton County is 19 Jan 1750 between Joseph Phillips and Sarah Exum.
  4. Wills from 1740 to 1881
    The Will Book of Southampton County contain wills dating to 1740 as well as administrative records providing inventory, appraisal, and settlement details of the estate. Wills often provide important details of family relationships including the name of the deceased, giving, the name of the testator, and the names of legatees (often showing relationships). The earliest record of Southampton County is will of John Dunkley presented in court on the 13th day of July 1749.
  5. Deeds from 1749 to 1881
    Deed book records include the name of the grantor and grantee, the residence of both individuals and the description and location of property being sold or transferred. The earliest deed of Southampton County is an indenture between Jonah Williams and Nicholas Williams Junior recorded on the 8th day of June 1749.
  6. Court orders from 1749 to 1881
    Court oders are more formal records of the county court than can be found in the Minute Book, which are the volumes actually used by the clerk of court as a sitting of the court took place. The content and provisions of a court order depend on the type of proceeding, the phase of the proceedings in which they are issued, and the procedural and evidentiary rules that govern the proceedings. An order can be as simple as setting a date for trial or as complex as restructuring contractual relationships by and between many corporations in a multi-jurisdictional dispute. It may be a final order (one that concludes the court action), or an interim order (one during the action). Most orders are written, and are signed by the judge. Some orders, however, are spoken orally by the judge in open court, and are only reduced to writing in the transcript of the proceedings. The Order Book here include such information as the nature of a civil or criminal case, the names of parties or the accused, the basic facts, whether trial was by jury, and the decision or sentence of the court. The earliest court orders of Southampton County were issued on 8 June 1749 by a court held in the home of Elizabeth Ricks.
  7. Court minutes from 1786 to 1870
    The Minute Book are the volumes actually used by the clerk of court as a sitting of the court took place to contemporaneously document the proceedings. The earliest court minutes of in this collection were recorded for a Quarterly Session of the court held on 11 May 1786.
  8. Guardianships from 1751 to 1857
    Guardianships Books contain court orders related to the appointment and administration of guardians, including bonds, accounts, and other papers filed by legal guardians. In Virginia, Courts generally have the power to appoint a guardian for an individual in need of special protection. A guardian is entrusted with the responsibility for both the personal well-being and the financial interests of the ward. A guardian is a fiduciary and is held to a very high standard of care in exercising his or her powers. If the ward owns substantial property, the guardian may be required to give a surety bond to protect the ward in the event that dishonesty or incompetence on his or her part causes financial loss to the ward. The earliest guardianship record is a reporting of the account of Richard Williams, relic of John Williams, by Jessie Brown recorded in 8 Aug 1751.
  9. Chancery records from 1832 to 1882

    Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law. A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case. Because the records rely so heavily on testimony from witnesses, they offer a unique glimpse into the lives of Virginians.

    The images here are included in Chancery Causes, 1749-1912, and have been indexed into the Chancery Records Index by the Library of Virginia. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Entries also include the reel number and image number of where each chancery suit can be found on microfilm.

    Chancery causes often involved (1) divisions of estates or land, (2) disputes over wills, divorces, debt, or (3) business disputes. Predominant documents found in chancery causes include bills (plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, wills, slave records, business records or vital statistics, among other items. Plats, if present, are noted, as are wills from localities with an incomplete record of wills or localities other than the one being indexed.

    Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and a primary source for understanding a locality's history. The earliest chancery record of in this collection is for a case heard by Robert B Taylor on 2 Apr 1832.

  10. Other miscellaneous records from 1775
    1. Minutes of the Commission of Safety 1775-1776

      On August 1, 1774, with the meeting of Virginia's first revolutionary convention, the advocates of change took the first step toward creating a government in opposition to royal authority in the colony. That new government was firmly established in July 1775 when the Committee of Safety was formed to serve as the executive agency based on an ordinance adopted on August 24, 1775, by the third revolutionary convention. Until Patrick Henry became governor on July 6, 1776, the committee served as the executive authority of the government.

      The eleven man committee controlled military and civilian matters when the Convention was not in session. The power of the Committee was considerable, since it commanded a permanent army and, to meet the needs of the war, it had the authority to become involved in the economy to an extent unknown before. Besides enforcing the ban on British trade and procuring supplies for the army, the delegates extended the authority to operate cannon works at Fredericksburg and lead mines in Fincastle County, as well as subsidize the production of sulfur and saltpeter for gunpowder.

      The Committee of Safety was appointed by the third revolutionary convention of 1775 for the protection of the colony. It had the power to grant commissions to officers, to appoint commissioners and paymasters, to issue warrants for arms and provisions, to call minute-men and militia into service, and to direct the movement of the Army.

      The Safety Committees were formed as headquarters for the Colonial Militia. There was a local committee formed, or there should have been one formed, in each county and city and town in the American colonies and the proceedings should all be in the offices of the clerks of the courts, the repositories of local public records. So far as Virginia is concerned, however, these repositories have suffered much from fire, war, and official neglect; and their present contents, both in cases where there have been losses of original papers. Only four sets of minutes (including those from Southampton County) are known to exist for Virginia.

      The oldest record of the Southampton County Commission of Safety is dated 20 Sep 1776 and names the members of the Commission and records the committee proceedings where Benjamin Worrell, John Porter, and Jonathan Pope were charged with uuttering words inimical to the rights of America,

    2. Procession Map Book 1826-1836
      Possession maps show property details
    3. Voter Registration Book 1902
      The 1902 Southampton County voter registration Book were created following the passage of the 1902 Virginia state constitution. The purpose of the 1902 state constitution was to maintain white suffrage while eliminating African-American voters by means of literacy tests as well as property and poll tax requirements.
      The voter registration book records the roll of registered voters in Southampton County. The volume is divided by precincts/magisterial district race/color. For each registered voter information includes date of registration; registration number; name; date of birth; age; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county, and precinct; whether exempt from poll tax; if naturalized, and if so, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred from another precinct, and if so, when and to what precinct.
    4. CSA Pension Applications

      Virginia provided for her Confederate veterans and their widows and dependents with three pension acts: 1888, 1900, and 1902. These acts varied in the persons that they covered, and the amount paid. These pension applications are indexed on a separate microfilm publication of the Virginia State Library and Archives,

      At the end of Reconstruction in January 1870 the Virginia General Assembly began to financially assist Virginia Confederate veterans and their families.

      An act was passed on 2 April 1902 to provide pensions for soldiers, sailors, and marines of Virginia who were wounded or disabled in the war between the States, and for the widows of same who lost their lives in said service or by reason of wounds or disease contracted therein. The applicant must have been a Virginia resident for 2 years and a resident for 1 year of the locality from whloh the certified application was made. Public office-holders with salaries above $150 were restricted from applying and proof from fellow soldiers was required. In oases of disability or death, the evidence of a doctor was required to state the nature of the disability or cause of death. In addition to the service information required, the applications included information about age and birthplace and in the case of widows, marriage date and place. Current residence of the applicant, occupation, and property owned (must be less than $500) or income (must be less than $150 per annum) were also to be listed. Individuals receiving pensions from other sources or who resided in public institutions were also prohibited from applying. An annual affidavit confirming the above facts was required of all applicants.

      An extension of this act was passed allowing applications after the previous 1902 deadline.

Submit suggestion/comment/critique/error(s) to the Southampton Transcription Project by clicking the link here.

Free counters!