Accomack County, Virginia Genealogy

United States

Virginia

Accomack County

Guide to Accomack County, Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Virginia Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Accomac Organized: 1633 Parent County(s): Northampton Variant Spellings: Accomac County Neighboring Counties Northampton, Somerset (MD), Worcester (MD) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Accomack County is located on the northernmost portion of Virginia's Eastern Shore. The county’s name comes from the Native American word Accawmack, meaning “the other shore”.

County Courthouse

Accomack County Courthouse
23316 Courthouse Avenue
Accomac, Virginia 23301
Phone: 757-787-5776
Accomack County Website

Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1784, divorce records from 1850, probate and court and land records from 1663

Accomack County, Virginia Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth	Marriage	Death	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1854	1774	1853	1663	1663	1663	1810
* Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1912. General compliance year is unknown.

Record Loss

Many loose records from the 1700s have suffered water and pest damage. However, deeds, court orders, and wills still exist. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see: Burned Counties. By Michael John Neill at 24-7 Family History Circle. When the Records are Gone. By Arlene Eakle at Arlene Eakle's Tennessee Blog. Burned Counties Research in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. List of counties in the United States with Record Loss

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Created from Northampton 1663. County seat: Accomac County Virginia Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Virginia Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Virginia county boundary changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Towns:

Accomac Belle Haven Bloxom Chincoteague Hallwood

Keller Melfa Onancock Onley Painter

Parksley Saxis Tangier Wachapreague

Communities:

Atlantic Bayside Bobtown Boston Captains Cove Cats Bridge Chase Crossing Deep Creek Gargatha Greenbackville Greenbush

Harborton Horntown Lee Mont Matomkin Mappsburg Mearsville Metompkin Modest Town Nelsonia New Church Oak Hall

Pastoria Pungoteague Quinby Sanford Savage Town Savageville South Chesconessex Tasley Temperanceville Wattsville Whitesville

History Timeline

Accomac Shire was established in the Virginia Colony by the House of Burgesses in 1634 under the direction of King Charles I. It was one of the original eight shires of Virginia. The shire's name comes from the Native American word Accawmack.

In 1642, the named was changed to Northampton County by the British, to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World. ("shires" and "counties" were essentially the same in England). In 1663, Northampton County was split into two counties. The northern section assumed the original Accomac name, the southern retained Northampton.

In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671. In 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling, which is Accomack County. (from Wikipedia)

Resources

Bible Records

For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.

• Joynes, 1812-1891 Joynes Family Bible Records, 1812-1891. Original records; microfilmed reproduction: FS Library Film 850402 Item 2.
• Mapp, 1733-1918 Mapp Family Bible Records, 1733-1918. Original records; microfilmed reproduction: FS Library Film 850402 Item 2.
• Parker - Bible of John R. Parker, Accomack County, Virginia. By James F. Lewis. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1971):133-134. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg.
• Scott, 1817-1825 Scott Family Bible Records, 1817-1825. Original records; microfilmed reproduction: FS Library Film 850402 Item 2.
• Taylor, 1741-1780 Family Records from the Ledger of Edward Taylor, Accomack County, 1741-1780. By Conley L. Edwards. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 22, No. 2 (Jul-Sep. 1978):179-180. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg.
• 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Family Bible Pages at GHOTES

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

• Surname index to Accomack Indentures 1798-1835 Petersrow Publishers ($).
• Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. By Philip Alexander Bruce. 1896. New York, NY : Macmillan and Co. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Accomack County, Virginia online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find a Grave VAGenWeb USGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Virginia Gravestones BillionGraves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Find a Grave FamilySearch Places
See Virginia Cemeteries for more information.

• Many cemetery records are available online at Eastern Shore Stuff.
• Gravestones of the Eastern Shore of Virginia; images of headstones
• Old Tombstones in Northampton and Accomac Counties, VA. By Lyon G. Tyler. The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Apr. 1895):256-262. Online at: Internet Archive, JSTOR.
• 1800-1986 Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Census Records

For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	13,959	—
1800	15,693	12.4%
1810	15,743	0.3%
1820	15,966	1.4%
1830	16,656	4.3%
1840	17,096	2.6%
1850	17,890	4.6%
1860	18,586	3.9%
1870	20,409	9.8%
1880	24,408	19.6%
1890	27,277	11.8%
1900	32,570	19.4%
1910	36,650	12.5%
1920	34,795	−5.1%
1930	35,854	3.0%
1940	33,030	−7.9%
1950	33,832	2.4%
1960	30,635	−9.4%
1970	29,004	−5.3%
1980	31,268	7.8%
1990	31,703	1.4%
2000	38,305	20.8%
2010	33,164	−13.4%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1790 - Lost, but a subsitute is available, see Taxation.

1800 - Exists, but it is not included in Ancestry, FamilySearch, or Heritage Quest Online databases. The original records are held at the Library of Virginia. Microfilm copy: FS Catalog Collection. Abstracts were published in The Virginia Genealogist:

• Second census of the United States, 1800, Accomack County, Virginia. By Annie Laurie Ewald. 1977. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1957):98-108; Vol. 1, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1957):157-162; Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1958):13-18; Vol. 2, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1958); Vol. 2, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1958):128-133; Vol. 2, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1958):153-166. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg; CD available at: American Ancestors ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). The census taker was exceptional in that he identified relationships and residences of inhabitants to distinguish between persons of the same name.

1820 - Exists, but the National Archives microfilm copy of Accomack County, Virginia omits page 6. The missing names have been published in The Virginia Genealogist as well as Shenandoah County GenWeb Project.

• Virginia 1820 Federal Census: Names Not on the Microfilm Copy. By Gerald M. Petty. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 18, No. 2 (April-June 1974):136-139. FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg.

1850 Agriculture Census

• Virginia 1850 Agriculture Census. By Linda L. Green. 2004-2007. 5 volumes. Westminster, Maryland : Willow Bend Books, FS Library Book 975.5 X2g 1850 v. 1; At various libraries (WorldCat).

1870

• Surname index to The Accomack County 1870 Census Petersrow Publishing ($).

1890 Union Veterans

• Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner. 1994. FS Library Collection. Online at: Online at: Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Accomack County VA Mortality Schedules 1850-1860-1870 at GHOTES

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

• The Oldest Churches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia; list of churches and when they were built.

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):

1. Chingoteague (1786)
2. Matompkin (1785)
3. Mesongoes (1779)
4. Pungoteague (1790) - Church minutes, 1833-1956, including lists of members, survive: FS Library Film 984293 Item 3.

• 1776 Petition of Baptists (10,000 names!) and sympathizers from all over Virginia, dated 16 October 1776, asking for an end to persecution of Baptists by the established church. After locating your ancestor, view the digital copies.
  – Digital copies at Library of Congress; also at Library of Virginia
  – Hall, Jean Pickett. "Legislative Petitions: the 10,000 name petition" transcription in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vols. 35-38, with annotations in Vol. 39, (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1983-) online at Ancestry ($) and in book form at various libraries.
  

Accomack County fell within the bounds of the Accomac Association.

Church of England

• See also Accomac Parish
• See also Accomack Parish
• See also St. George's Parish
• A Parsonage House for Accomack, 1635. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Mar., 1963), p. 36. Online at: JSAH.
• Colonial Churches of Tidewater Virginia. By George Carrington Mason. 1945. Richmond, Virginia : Whittet & Shepperson. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Early Episcopacy in Accomack. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct., 1897), pp. 128-132. Online at: JSTOR.
• Surname index to St. George's Parish Accomack County Vestry Book 1763-1787 Petersrow Publishing ($) .
• Surname index to Meetings of the Overseers of the Poor for Accomack & St. George's Parish September 1787-1819 Petersrow Publishing ($).

Methodist

• Native Methodist Preachers of the Eastern Shore of Virginia: With Supplements Concerning Methodist Preachers and Methodist Preachers' Children Who Have Married on the Shore and a Few Others. By Arthur Linwood Stevenson. 1973. Brevard, NC : A.L. Stevenson. FS Library Book 975.51 K2s, Film 874182 Item 15. At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Surname index to A Record of Baptisms on the Accomack Circuit (Cokesbury Methodist Episcopal Church of Onancock, Virginia, 1859-1888) Petersrow Publishing ($).

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):

• Guilford Creek Monthly Meeting (1677-1729) aka Muddy Creek.
• Findagrave is an international database of cemetery interments. In some cases there are photographs and comments regarding the deceased's family. It is a collaborative project, meaning any volunteer may add names and photos. As of 2016 it contained over 150 million burial records and 75 million photos.

• Swansqut Monthly Meeting (1736-1790)

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

• Mis. Court Records at GHOTES

Chancery Court

• Surname index to Accomack County Chancery Orders 1831-1845 Petersrow Publishing ($).
• Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Index includes digital images for Accomack County chancery records for the years 1702-1862. Indexed information and original records available at the Library of Virginia through 1913.

County Court

• Colonial Residents of Virginia's Eastern Shore: Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack and Northampton Counties. By William Robert Montgomery Houston and Jean M. Mihalyka. 1993. Baltimore, Maryland : Clearfield Co. FS Library Book 975.51 D2h; At various libraries (WorldCat). Ages taken from court, land, and probate records.
• The Colonial County Court, Social Forum and Legislative Precedent: Accomack County, Virginia, 1633-1639. By George B. Curtis.The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 85, No. 3 (Jul., 1977), pp. 274-288. FS Library Book 975.5 B2v, online at: JSTOR ($).
• The Women of Accomack versus Henry Smith: Gender, Legal Recourse, and the Social Order in Seventeenth-Century Virginia. By Irmina Wawrzyczek. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 105, No. 1 (Winter, 1997), pp. 5-26. FS Library Book 975.5 B2v, online at: JSTOR ($).

Eastern Shore District Court

• Surname index to Eastern Shore District Court 1789-1816 Petersrow Publishing ($) .

Orphan's Court

• Surname index to Accomack County Orphan's Court Accounts 1741-1805 Petersrow Publishing ($) .

Petitions

• A Calendar of Legislative Petitions Arranged by Counties Accomac - Bedford (Virginia State Library). By H.J. Eckenrode. 1908. Richmond, Virginia : Davis Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing. Online at: HathiTrust.

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Emigration and Immigration

For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration

The Port of Accomack entry book (1783-1793) has been preserved. Clerks recorded the name of vessel and port of origination, name of master, type of cargo, and amount of duties, but not passengers: FS Library Film 1902295 Item 2. Unfortunately, no official passenger lists survive for the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries.

• North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. By Peter Wilson Coldham. 2007. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co. At various libraries (WorldCat). Includes wills of residents of Accawacke (Accomack), Nasswadax Creek, and Accomack County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.
• List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Virginia are online at: Immigrant Servants Database.
  
• The Women of Accomack versus Henry Smith: Gender, Legal Recourse, and the Social Order in Seventeenth-Century Virginia. By Irmina Wawrzyczek. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 105, No. 1 (Winter, 1997), pp. 5-26. FS Library Book 975.5 B2v; digital version at JSTOR ($). [Some of the individuals involved in this case were imported servants.]

During the War of 1812, American officials reported finding a total of 1 British alien living in Accomack County.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African American
From 1790 to 1860, Accomack County had one of the largest free black populations in the state (721 in 1790; 3418 in 1860).

• 1788 Tax List - Virginia. Blacks: Accomac County, Accomac Parish and Whites: Accomac County, Accomac Parish, Islands. Online at: Accomac Roots.
• 1799 Tax List - Virginia. Blacks: Accomac County, Accomac Parish and Whites: Accomac County, Accomac Parish, Islands. Online at: Accomac Roots.
• Accomac Roots is an online resource with extensive African American information, including genealogy, census data, tax lists, indentures, cemeteries, maps, pictures, documents, and sources.
• Accomack County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1814. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Library of Virginia. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
• Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. By Paul Heinegg. 2005-present. Online at: Free African Americans; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1865-1872 Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• The 1850 Slave Inhabitants Schedule of Accomac County, Virginia. By Celestine G. Koger. c1995. Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books. FS Library Book 975.516 X2k 1850; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records for African-Americans in Accomack County.

Funeral Homes

• 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Genealogies

Compiled Genealogies by Surname

• See Accomack County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles, or jump to a surname using the alphabet bar.
• Eastern Shore Family Data Files at GHOTES
• Family Journals at GHOTES
• The Ghotes Common Ancestor Linkage Project at GHOTES
• 100s of Families from the Eastern Shore, from Charlemagne to the early 1900s at Miles Files

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Compiled Genealogies for Multiple Families

• McCartney, Martha W. Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers 1607-1635: For earliest colonists of Accomack County, Virginia; A Biographical Dictionary. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2007. FS Library US/CAN Book 975.5 D36m.
• Carey, Mary Frances, Barry W. Miles, and Moody K. Miles. Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. 3 vols. Lewes, Delaware: Colonial Roots, 2004-2007. FS Library US/CAN Book 975.51 D2c 3 volumes. Contents:
• v. 1. Descendants of James Bonnewell, Richard Bundick, William Mason, Edward Thornton, Henry Trader, and Henry Wright
• v. 2. Descendants of Edward Bayly, Richard Bayly, Edward Byrd, Edward Ker, John Lewis, Samuel Marshall, and Roger Miles
• v. 3. Descendants of Thomas Elliott (Northampton County), Thomas Elliott (Onley, Accomack County), Thomas Elliott (Wachapreague, Accomack), John Fisher, John Mapp, and Bartholowmew Mears.
• Available digitally at Eastern Shore Public Library
• Edwards, Lucy Ames and Nannie Ames Mears. Ames, Mears and Allied Lines. The American Ancestors of Samuel William Ames and Sarah Anne Edmunds Mears of Accomack County, Virginia. 1967. FS Library Book 929.273 Am37e. Discusses 67 Eastern Shore families.
• Heinegg, Paul. Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. 2005-present. - free online book. Allen, Bartlett (see introduction), Bestick (see introduction), Bevans, Bibbens, Blake, Carter, Case, Church, Consellor, Copes, Davis, Douglass, Driggers, Duffy, Duncan, Farrell, Finnie, Fletcher, Fortune, Francis, Francisco, George, Hammond, Hanser, Harman, Harris, Harrison, Hitchens, Holt, Hutton (see introduction), Johnson, Lang, Liverpool, Longo, Malavery, Marshall, Matthews, Mongom, Morris, Moses, Nutts, Okey, Parkinson, Payne, Perkins, Priss, Read, Roberts, Robinson, Rosario, Salmons, Sample, Shepherd, Sisco, Stephens, Teague, Thompson, Vincent (see introduction), Webb, Weeks, West, Wise, Young families of pre-1820 Accomack County, Virginia.
• Mears, James Egbert. Hacks Neck and Its People, Past and Present: A Collection of Historical Material, A Portrayal of Life and Some of the Customs of These Eastern Shore of Virginia People, A List of Many of Their Names, Their Descendants and Family Connections, and the Names of Land Owners Therein from Colonial Times to the Present. Chicago, Ill.: J.E. Mears, 1937. Available at Virginia Historical Society.
• Mears, James Egbert. Scrapbooks, 1962-1965. 3 vols. MSS. Available at Virginia Historical Society.
• Mears, James Egbert. Scrapbooks, 1965-1967. 3 vols. MSS. Available at Virginia Historical Society.
• Mears, James Egbert. Scrapbooks, 1967-1970. 6 vols. MSS. Available at Virginia Historical Society.
• Stone, Doris Y. Genealogical Notes Concerning Selected Virginia Families. MSS. Available at Virginia Historical Society. "Primarily concern early settlers in Virginia's Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton counties) and in Surry County, Va. Families represented include Barham, Beckwith, Bird/Byrd, Clark/Clarke, Corbin, Creed, Ewell, Filmer, Gray, Justis/Justice, Killman/Killmon, Lewis, Long, Rew/Rhue/Arew, Shrieves/Shreaves/Shreves, Swan/Swann/Swon, Taylor/Tailer/Tayler, Warren, Watson, and Yeardley/Yardly."

Land and Property Records

For land indexes, records, and databases, see Virginia Land and Property, including Colonial and State Land Grants.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Grants and Patents Land patents (pre-1779), land grants (after 1779) and surveys are available online at the Library of Virginia website. For step-by-step instructions on retrieving these records, read the Virginia Land and Property article.

• Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666. By Nell Marion Nugent. 1963. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co. Online at: Hathitrust Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800. By Nell Marion Nugent. 1934. Richmond, Virginia : Press of the Dietz Printing Co. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Headrights

• Certificates and Rights, Accomack County, Virginia, 1663-1709. By Stratton Nottingham. 1929. Onancock, Virginia : S. Nottingham. Online at: Open Library ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).

Processioner's Returns

• Surname index to Accomack and St. George's Parishes Processioner's Returns 1723-1792, 1796-1816 Petersrow Publishers ($).
• Surname index to genealogical analysis of landowners appearing in Processioner's Returns of St. George Parish 1795-1796 Petersrow Publishers ($).

Local Histories

• The Eastern Shore of Virginia, 1603-1964. By Nora Miller Turman. 1988. Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books. Online at: Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Ye Kingdome of Accawmacke, or The Eastern Shore of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. By Jennings Copper Wise. 1911. The Bell Book and Stationery Co : Richmond, Virginia. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Maps and Gazetteers

County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For map collections, online and in libraries, see Virginia Maps.

• Virginia Eastern Shore Maps and Gazetteers at GHOTS
• Eastern Shore Gazetteer at GHOTS

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Virginia Eastern Shore Maps and Gazetteers at GHOTS
• Accomack County Maps at GHOTS
• FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

French and Indian War

• Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. By William F. Boogher. 2007. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat). Includes a chapter titled "Legislative Enactments connecting the preceding historic sketch [French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore's War] with the adjudication of the resulting accounts that follow; with the list of officers, soldiers and civilians entitled to compensation for military and other services rendered." For Accomack County, see p. 25.
• Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. By William Armstrong Crozier. 1954. Baltimore, Maryland : Southern Book Co. Online at: Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. By Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck. 1988. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co. FS Library Book 975.5 M2bL. Online at: Ancestry ($). Identifies some Accomack County militia officers and/or soldiers; see place name index.

Revolutionary War

• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshals of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Washington : Blair and Rives. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
• Index to Revolutionary Pension and Bounty-Land Documents at the Library of Virginia. 2012. Compiled by C. Leon Harris. Online at: Library of Virginia.
• Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." FS Library Book 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). Includes veterans. Virginia section begins on page 238.
• Rev. John Lyon Tried by a Court Martial in Accomack County, August 8, 1781. The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Oct., 1922), pp. 285-288. Online at: Internet Archive.
• Soldiers and Sailors of the Eastern Shore of Virginia in the Revolutionary War. By Stratton Nottingham. 1995. Westminster, Maryland : Family Line Publications. FS Library Book 975.51 M2n.

Regiments.Service men in Accomack County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Accomack County supplied soldiers for the:

- 9th Virginia Regiment

War of 1812
Accomack County men served in the 2nd and 99th Regiments.

• List of Pensioners on the Roll, January 1, 1883; Giving the Name of Each Pensioner, the Cause for Why Pensioned, the Post-Office Address, the Rate of Pension Per Month, and the Date of Original Allowance... Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883. FS Library Book 973 M2Lp v. 5; online at Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Virginia, Accomack County, p. 58
• Heritage Trail Markers for The War of 1812:
• Chesconessex Creek at Accomack County
• Pungoteague Creek at Accomack County
• Tangier Island at Accomack County
  

Civil War
Civil War service men in Accomack County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:

- 39th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies E, F, G, H, I, and L.

Online Civil War Indexes and Records

• 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1861-1865 Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
• Eastern Shore of Virginia Register of Loyal Volunteers (Civil War Era) at GHOTES

World War I

• Barnes, Alton Brooks Parker. Young No More. [Onancock, Virginia]: P. Barnes, c1994. FS Library Book 975.51 M2bp. [Gives a history of World War I from the viewpoint of men from Accomack and Northampton counties who fought in the war.]

World War II

• 1940-1945 Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1906-1929 Virginia Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Newspapers

For online newspaper resources, see the Virginia Newspapers page.

• 1800s-Current Virginia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1888-1905 Digitized images of the Peninsula Enterprise of Accomac, Virginia (1888-1905) are available online at the Library of Congress Chronicling America project.
• Indexed images of the Virginia Gazette (1736-1780) are available online through the Colonial Williamsburg website.
• Professor Tom Costa and The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia have created a database of all runaway advertisements for slaves, indentured servants, transported convicts, and ship deserters listed in this source and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: The Geography of Slavery in Virginia. These newspapers are valuable resources for all regions of Virginia.
  

Probate Records

For statewide probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• Mis. Court Records at GHOTES
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Court

• 1671-1674; 1673-1676; 1676-1690;1678-1682; 1682-1697; 1682-1715; 1715-1729 Images of Wills Inventories Appraisements at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1678-82; 1682-1697; 1692-1715; 1715-1729; 1729-1737 Indexes to Deeds, Estates, Wills at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1729-1737 Wills, inventories, appraisements, divisions (digital images) Virginia Pioneers ($)

District Court

• Surname index to Eastern Shore District Court Wills and Deeds 1800-1806 Petersrow Publishers ($)

Guardian Bonds

• Surname index to Accomack County Guardian Bonds 1819-1827 Petersrow Publishers ($)

London Courts

• North American Wills Registered in London 1611-1857. By Peter Wilson Coldham. 2007. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co. At various libraries (WorldCat). Includes wills of residents of Accawacke (Accomack), Nasswadax Creek, and Accomack County proved in London. These records often help establish an immigrant's place of origin.
• 1639-1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry — index, incomplete ($)

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

For additional online collections and the value and use of Virginia's tax lists in your research, see Virginia Taxation.

Online Tax Indexes and Records

Officials

• Tax Lists York County 1782, 1783, 1784; Rent Roll York County 1704, Gloucester 1704, Warwick 1704; James City County Taxes 1768. By Thelma I. Hansford. 1990. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. FS Library Film 1728880 Item 1. At various libraries (WorldCat).

Original versions
The original Accomack County personal property tax lists are kept at the Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. and the Accomack County Courthouse, Accomac, Va. Microfilm copies: (years: 1782-1850) FS Library Films 2024439-2024442.

Published versions

• 1674; 1678-1695 Accomack County Tithables at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1663-1695 Accomack Tithables 1663-1695. By Stratton Nottingham. 2001. Onancock, Westminster, MD : Willow Bend Books. FS Library Book 975.516 R4n; 1987 reprint: FS Library Book 975.516 R4n 1987. At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1666 Ye Kingdome of Accawmacke, or The Eastern Shore of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. By Jennings Copper Wise. 1911. The Bell Book and Stationery Co : Richmond, Virginia. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1679 A List of Tithables Accomack Co., Virginia 1679," The Quarterly (Dallas County Genealogical Society). By Mrs. J.L. Lu and Mrs. W.A. Neumann. Vol. 24, No. 4 (Dec. 1978):222-224. FS Library Book 976.4 D25L v. 24 (1978)
• 1683 Quit Rent Roll for 1683. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 1985). FS Library Book 975.5 B2vs v. 23.
• 1704 Virginia Quit Rent Rolls, 1704. Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 1983. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co. Vol. 28 (1920):207-218, 328-339; Vol. 29 (1921):18-28, 337-343, 402-412; Vol. 30 (1922):21-30, 280-285, 341-347; Vol. 31 (1923):70-75, 153-163, 215-231, 314-318; Vol. 32 (1924):69-75, 144-158, 281-287, 338-343; Vol. 33 (1925):47-50, 359-370; Vol. 34 (1926):113-119, 252-258, 313, 321. FS Library Books 975.5 B2v v. 28-34; Reprinted in Virginia Tax Records available at FS Library FS Library Book 975.5 R4v. Online at: Internet Archive, JSTOR($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Accomack County appears in 34:113-119, 252-258.
• 1782, 1790, 1800 Accomack County, Virginia Tax Lists in "U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820," available online at Ancestry ($). Includes 1782, 1790, and 1800 personal property tax lists.
• 1782-1814 Accomack County Personal Property Tax List 1782-1814. By Paul Heinegg. Online at: Free African Americans. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records.
• 1782-1850 Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850. FS films 2024439 (1 of 6) - images.
• 1783 Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website.
• 1787 Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-87, Other Than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau. By Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle. 1940. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978. FS Catalog book 975.5 R4f 1978. Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, FS Library film 874197, item 4 - images. At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1787 The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. By Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Speakman Love. c1987. Springfield, Virginia : Genealogical Books in Print. At various libraries (WorldCat).
• 1788 1788 Tax List - Virginia. Blacks: Accomac County, Accomac Parish and Whites: Accomac County, Accomac Parish, Islands - Accomac Roots.
• 1799 1799 Tax List - Virginia. Blacks: Accomac County, Accomac Parish and Whites: Accomac County, Accomac Parish, Islands - Accomac Roots.
• 1815 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). By Roger D. Ward. c1997. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co. FS Catalog 975 E4w. At various libraries (WorldCat).

Vital Records

For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.

Birth

The birth registers of Accomack County, Virginia (1853-1896) have been indexed multiple times. Petersrow Publishers offers a free surname search of published abstracts on their website. Ancestry's fee-based databases include abstracts.

• 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1853-1866 Virginia, Slave Birth Index, 1853-1866 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1853-1896 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Birth Records, 1853-1896 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images, coverage may vary
• 1912-1913 Virginia, Birth Certificates, 1912-1913 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Surname index to The Accomack County Birth Register 1853-1896: African American Births Petersrow Publishers ($)

Beth Fridley's birth abstracts are on Ancestry ($)

1853-1865	1874-1877	1882-1892
1866-1873	1878-1881	1893-1896

• Surname index to The Accomack County Birth Register 1853-1896 Petersrow Publishers ($)

Marriage

• 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages - Findmypast ($)
• 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1706-1901 Virginia, Various Counties, Marriage Bonds, 1706-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1771-1943 Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1943 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
• To 1699 Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1784-1785 Bonds at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
• 1787-1788; 1790-1791; 1792-1798 Licenses and Bonds atVirginia Pioneers ($)
• 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)
• 1936-1988 Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

• 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1853-1896 Surname index to The Accomack County Death Register 1853-1896 - Petersrow Publishers ($)
• 1853-1896 Surname index to Accomack County Death Register 1853-1896: African American Deaths - Petersrow Publishers ($)
• 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1853-1912 Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1912-1987 Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Divorce

• 1918-1988 Virginia, Divorce Records, 1918-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Accomack County. For state-wide facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Eastern Shore Virginia FamilySearch Center
• Gloucester Virginia FamilySearch Center
• Tappahannock Virginia FamilySearch Center
• Northumberland Public Library - an affiliate library
• Williamsburg Regional Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Accomack County. For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Accomack County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.

• 1704- Quit Rent Rolls at Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1896 Minute Book at Virginia Pioneers ($)

Websites

• Accomac Roots (Extensive African-American History in Accomac County Virginia)
• Accomack County, VA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy (genealogyinc)
• Accomack County, VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Cemetery, census, church, marriage, military records; maps; message boards; surname interests.
• Cyndi's List
• MilesFiles
• Virginia Pioneers
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.

Research Guides

• A Guide to the Counties of Virginia:Accawmack County. The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1959). FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 3 (1959); CD available at: American Ancestors ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).