Halifax County, Virginia Genealogy

United States

Virginia

Halifax County

Guide to Halifax 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: Halifax Organized: 10 May 1752 Parent County(s): Lunenburg Neighboring Counties Campbell • Caswell NC • Charlotte • Granville (NC) • Mecklenburg • Person (NC) • Pittsylvania See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Halifax County is located in the south-central portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and shares a border with North Carolina. The county was named for the second Earl of Halifax, George Montagu Dunk, a friend of Virginia’s colonial governor Robert Dinwiddie.

County Courthouse

Halifax County Courthouse
8 Couth Main Street #200
P.O. Box 458
Halifax, VA 24558
Phone: 434-476-3385
Halifax County Website

Halifax 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
1853	1753	1853	1752	1761	1762	1810
* Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1912. General compliance year is unknown.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1890 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 County: Created from Lunenburg County, 10 May 1752. County seat: Halifax 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
Clarksville Halifax	Scottsburg South Boston	Virgilina
Unincorporated communities
Alton Crystal Hill Ingram	Midway Midway	Paces Vernon Hill
Census-designated places
Clover Cluster Springs	Mountain Road Nathalie	Riverdale

History Timeline

George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716-1771)

Halifax County, Virginia is named after George Montagu-Dunk, the second Earl of Halifax (1716-1771). (The same can be said for Halifax (NC).) He was a British statesman and was president of the Board of Trade from 1748 to 1761. He was also a friend of Robert Dinwiddie, who was governor of the colony of Virginia.

The first county seat was Peytonsburg (now in Pittsylvania County). The current county seat of Halifax County is Halifax, which has served as such since 1800. The county was established in May, 1752 from Lunenburg County. Halifax County originally extended as far west as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The counties of Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties were formed out of Halifax County, as well as the southern half of Franklin County. In addition, parts of Bedford and Floyd Counties were formed from Halifax.

Pittsylvania County was formed in 1766 or 1767 (sources differ) as a subdivision of Halifax. The other counties mentioned were then formed out of Pittsylvania. At the time that Pittsylvania County broke away from Halifax County, the latter county took on its present outline.

The boundaries of Antrim Parish were identical to those of Halifax County when the county was formed in 1752. After Pittsylvania County was formed, the boundaries of Antrim Parish were adjusted to match those of the present form of Halifax County.

Resources

Bible Records

For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.

• 1607-2007 Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Halifax County, Virginia online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find a Grave VAGenWeb USGenWeb Archives VA Tombstone Transcription 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.

Additional Cemetery Resources

• 1800-1986 Virginia, Jewish Cemetery Records Index, ca. 1800-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Barksdale Cemetery Tombstone Photographs (US GenWeb Archives)
• Halifax County, Virginia Cemeteries (Cemetery Census)
• Halifax County, Virginia Cemeteries (U.S. Cemetery Project)

Census Records

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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	14,722	—
1800	19,377	31.6%
1810	22,133	14.2%
1820	19,060	−13.9%
1830	28,034	47.1%
1840	25,936	−7.5%
1850	25,962	0.1%
1860	26,520	2.1%
1870	27,828	4.9%
1880	33,588	20.7%
1890	34,424	2.5%
1900	37,197	8.1%
1910	40,044	7.7%
1920	41,374	3.3%
1930	41,283	−0.2%
1940	41,271	−0.0%
1950	41,442	0.4%
1960	33,637	−18.8%
1970	30,076	−10.6%
1980	30,599	1.7%
1990	29,033	−5.1%
2000	37,355	28.7%
2010	36,241	−3.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1782 Enumeration

• Halifax County Heads of Families - 1782 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 22.

1785 Enumeration

• Halifax County Heads of Families - 1785 at U.S. Census Bureau - free. County begins on page 87.

1790

• Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation

1800

• Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation

1810

• Halifax is one of 18 VA counties for which the 1810 census was lost when the British occupied Washington and burned census reports. Tax lists are available; see Taxation.

1820

• 1820 Census (Ancestry.com)
• 1820 Census Index (S-K Publications)
• Exists, but is defective. See "Halifax County, Virginia, 1820 Census: A Comment," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1959):26. Available at FS Library; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). [Explains that in 1820, census takers skipped entire Halifax County communities.]
• Williams, Mike K. 1820 Halifax County, Virginia Census. Signal Mountain, TN: Mountain Press, 1989. WorldCat

1850

• 1850 census (scroll to "Census" section) (US GenWeb Archives)
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. 1850 Census of Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1982. WorldCat

1860

• 1860 census (selected; scroll to "Census" section) (US GenWeb Archives)

1870

• 1870 census (images; scroll to "Census" section) (US GenWeb Archives)

1900

• 1900 census (partial; scroll to "Census" section) (US GenWeb Archives)

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):

1. Arbor (1785)
2. Buffaloe (1776)
3. Catawba (1773)
4. Childrey (1783)
5. County Line aka Sandy Creek. Some records and membership lists for the 1780s were published in Piedmont Lineages, Vol. 16, No. 2 (May 1994) and in Vol. 20, No. 2 (May 1998). FS Library Book 975 D25b.
6. Dan River (1802)
7. Hunting Creek (1775)
8. Liberty (1802)
9. Mayo (1774)
10. Millstone (1787)
11. Miry Creek (1803)
12. Musterfield (1779)
13. Polecat (1790)
14. Twelve Corner (1803)
15. Wynn's Creek (1773)

• 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.
  Halifax County fell within the bounds of the Roanoke Association.

Church of England

• Antrim Parish, Halifax County, 1752-1767
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Vestry Book of Antrim Parish, Halifax County, Virginia, 1752-1817. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co., 1983, 1997. WorldCat
• For more regarding Antrim Parish, see also Antrim Parish

Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):

• Banister Monthly Meeting (1758-1811) aka Halifax aka Kirby's
• Brown, Jane Douglas Summers and Jones Memorial Library. Jane Douglas Summers Brown (1903-) Quaker Records: Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Virginia); MS 1515. MSS, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va. Available on 26 microfilms at FS Library. [Includes records of Halifax County Quakers; Brown assisted "William Wade Hinshaw in the writing of the Virginia volume of the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy."]

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Plea Book 1, Halifax County, Virginia, 1752-1755. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1988. WorldCat
• Court Records (scroll to "Court" section) (US GenWeb Archives)
• Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1992, 2000. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders, 1759-1762 (Plea Book No. 3). Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1998. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders, 1763-1764 (Plea Book No. 4). Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1998. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Court Orders, 1767-1770 (Plea Book No. 6). Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 2000. WorldCat
• Library of Virginia's Chancery Record Index can be used to search digital images of Halifax County chancery records for the years 1753-1913.

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

• List of imported servants and transported convicts from Europe who served labor terms in Colonial Virginia are online at: Immigrant Servants Database.
  

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African American
In 1860, Halifax County had the largest enslaved population in the state (14,897 slaves). Ten years late in 1870, it had one of the largest African American populations in Virginia (16,266).

• 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Heinegg, Paul. "Halifax County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1832," Free African Americans.com. [Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records. This list also includes some families with Native American ancestry.]
• Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized images of African Americans of Halifax County.

Native Americans

• Halifax County, Virginia Native Americans
  
• History of the Indians of Halifax County, Virginia (Old Halifax)
• Lumbee Indians and Goins Family: Halifax County, VA Early Records
• The Native Americans of Halifax County, Virginia & the Early Explorers (Old Halifax)
  
• Saponi Descendants Association (includes Halifax County)
• The Saponi in Halifax County (Searching for Saponitown)
  
• Sappony (includes Halifax County)
• Searching for Saponitown (includes Halifax County)

Funeral Homes

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

Brooks Lyon Funeral Home in South Boston Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston Powell Funeral Home in South Boston

Genealogies

Compiled Genealogies by Surname

• See Halifax County, Virginia Compiled Genealogies for a list of published books and articles, or jump to the surname using the alphabet bar.

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

• Pritchett, John W. Southside Virginia Genealogies. CD-ROM. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2007. Free online index, courtesy: Virginians - The Family History of John W. Pritchett. [Includes a great deal of information about residents of Halifax County, see discussion of cited sources.] FS Library CD-ROM no. 3887.

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

General

• Dodson, Roger C. Property Lines from an Old Survey Book: Halifax County, Virginia, 1741 to 1901. Danville, VA: VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society, 1998. At other libraries

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.

• Abercrombie, Janice L., and Richard Slatten. Halifax County (Virginia Publick Claims series). Athens, GA: Iberian, 1991?. At other libraries
• Hudgins and Wells. 782 patents dated 1738-1853 in what is now Halifax County, Virginia placed on a map. DeedMapper, 2006. [Names of those who received land patents, dates, land descriptions, and references may be viewed free of charge (click "Index" next to the county listing); however, in order to view the maps, it is necessary to purchase Direct Line Software's DeedMapper product.]

Deeds

• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Deed Book 7, 1767-1770, Halifax County, Virginia. Athens, GA: New Papyrus, 2005?. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 1, 1752-1759. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1985. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 7, 1767-1770. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1990. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Books. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1985, 1986. WorldCat
• Deeds (scroll to "Deeds" section) (US GenWeb Archives)
• Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 9, 1773-1775. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1990. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 10, 1775-1778. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1991. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 15, 1790-1793. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1996. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 16 (1793-1796). Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1997. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Deeds. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1989, 1997. WorldCat
• Hamlin, Charles Hughes, comp., Virginia Ancestors and Adventurers, 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1973. Reprinted in one vol., Baltimore: Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. This title includes a number of Halifax County, Virginia land records. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).

Local Histories

• Aaron, Larry G.. The Race to the Dan: The Retreat that Rescued the American Revolution. Halifax County, Virginia: Halifax County Historical Society, and Lynchburg, Virginia: Warwick House Publishing, 2007. At the Library of Virginia.
• Altman, Forrest. Adventures in the Dan River Basin (pdf)
• Carrington, Wirt Johnson. A History of Halifax County [Virginia]. Richmond, Virginia: Appeals Press, 1924; Baltimore: Regional Publishing Co., 1969. FS Library| 1959 reprint at FS Library | WorldCat. Digital editions: Ancestry ($).
• Edmunds, Pocahontas White. History of Halifax. 2 vols. Halifax, Virginia: P.W. Edmunds, 1978. Reviewed by Susan L. Bracey in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 87, No. 3 (Jul., 1979):365-367. Review available at FS Library; digital version at JSTOR ($).
• Estabrooks, Henry L. Adrift in Dixie or, a Yankee Officer Among the Rebels. South Boston, Virginia: South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History, 2007. At the Library of Virginia.
• "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Halifax County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 4, 1968.
• Halifax County Chamber of Commerce. The Halifax County Story. Lynchburg, VA: Progress Publishing, 1974. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Heritage 1752-2007, Waynesville, NC: County Heritage, Inc., 2007. WorldCat | Library of Virginia.
• Heinegg, Paul. Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina from the Colonial Period to About 1820, 5th ed., 2 vols. Despite the title, this work discusses Native American families of Halifax County as well as African-American families. An updated edition of this publication is available for free at FreeAfricanAmericans.com.
  
• The History of Halifax County
• History of Halifax County, Virginia (YouTube video)
• The History of Halifax County, Virginia 1750-1940
• A History of the Halifax County Assembly, 1975. WorldCat
• History of the Indians of Halifax County, Virginia
  
• Young, Henry Preston. Country Folks: The Way We Were Back Then in Halifax County, Virginia: A Collection of Stories. Lawrenceville, VA: Brunswick, 1999. 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.

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Libre Map Project (detailed online topographic maps of Halifax County)
• FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

• Bell, Mary McCampbell. "Some Migrations from Virginia to South Carolina," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Summer 1981): 143-144; Vol. 9, No. 4 (Fall 1981): 183-190; Vol. 10, No. 1 (Winter 1982): 37-42; Vol. 10, No. 2 (Spring 1982): 70-77. Includes records of Halifax County residents who migrated to South Carolina. Links to digital versions on South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research.
• Elliott, Katherine B. Emigration to Other States from Southside Virginia. 2 vols. South Hill, Virginia: K.B. Elliott, 1966. Vol. 1 of original edition at FS Library; 1983 reprints (both volumes) at FS Library; 1990-1992 reprints (both volumes) also at FS Library. (Includes individuals who migrated out of Halifax County to other parts of the country)
  

Military Records

French and Indian War

• Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Virginia's Colonial Soldiers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988. Available at FS Library. Online at: Ancestry ($). Identifies some Halifax County militia officers and veterans; see place name index.
• Boogher, William F. Gleanings of Virginia History: An Historical and Genealogical Collection, Largely from Original Sources. Washington: n.p., 1903. Available at FS Library; digital version at Internet Archive. Includes a chapter titled "Legislative Enactments connecting the preceding historic sketch [French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore's War] with the adjudication of the resulting accounts that follow; with the list of officers, soldiers and civilians entitled to compensation for military and other services rendered." For Halifax County, see pp. 83-85, 108-110.
• 1651-1776 Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia Colonial Militia 1651-1776. Baltimore: Southern Book Co., 1954. Available at FS Library US/CAN Book 975.5 M2c; digital book at Ancestry ($). Identifies some County militia officers and soldiers; see place name index.

Revolutionary War

• Abercrombie, Janice L. and Richard Slatten. Virginia Publick Claims: Halifax County. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company.
• Carrington, Wirt Johnson. "Revolutionary Soldiers, Halifax County Records, Court of Pleas, 1774-1777," The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Jan., 1927):60. Available at FS Library; digital version at JSTOR ($). Recommendations for military officers.
• A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: FS Library Book 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Eastern District, Halifax County on page 131.
• 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.
• Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. By J.T. McAllister. 1913. Hot Springs, Va.: McAllister Pub. Co. Online at: Internet Archive

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

- 7th Virginia Regiment

- 14th Virginia Regiment

War of 1812
Halifax County men served in the 69th and 84th Regiments.

• Douthat, James L. Roster of War of 1812, Southside, Virginia. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2007. Mountain Press provides online surname index. FS Library Book 975.5 M2djL. Includes Halifax County.
• 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; digital versions at Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Virginia, Halifax County, pp. 82-83. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Civil War

• 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)

Regiments. Civil War service men in Halifax 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:

- 1st Regiment, Virginia Artillery (Confederate). Company C (3rd) (Halifax Light Artillery)

- 3rd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company C (Black Walnut Dragoons or Light Dragoons), Company H (Catawba Troop).

- 6th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company G (Flournoy Troop).

- 14th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company G (Mount Vernon Guard), Company H (Meadville Greys), and Company K (Dan River Rifles).

- 20th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company H (Clover Rifles) and Company K (South of Dan Rebels).

- 23rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Brooklyn Grays).

- 34th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company F (Halifax Heavy Artillery).

- 38th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Pittsylvania Regiment) (Confederate). Company F (Davis Rifle Guards).

- 53rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Companies A (Halifax Light Infantry) and C (Edmunds Guards).

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battle was fought in Halifax County.

• June 25, 1864 - Staunton River Bridge, also known as Blacks and Whites or Old Men and Young Boys.

• Battles of the American Civil War maps - filter by state or by battle name.

World War II

• Halifax County, Virginia World War II Casualties, Army and Air Force (Access Genealogy)

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 ($)
• Indexed images of the Virginia Gazette (1736-1780) are available online through the Colonial Williamsburg website. In addition, 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.
• South Boston News & Record

Obituaries

• Halifax County, Virginia Obituaries

Other Records

Voting Records

• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Lists of Voters for Elections of Burgesses, 1764-1769, Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Self-published, 1986. WorldCat
• Warren, Mary Bondurant. Halifax County, Virginia Colonial Poll [1764-1769] and Tithables Lists [1755-1780]. Danielsville, Georgia: Heritage Papers, 1991. Available at FS Library.

Periodicals

The Blount Journal
Genealogical articles with abstracts of Halifax County, Virginia records have been published in The Blount Journal, the publication of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society. Began in 1985, still in print. An index is available online. Purchase back issues through the society. The FamilySearch Library has acquired most volumes FS Catalog 976.8885 B2b.

Probate Records

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

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1633-1800 Wills and Estate Records Index at Library of Virginia.*Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Will Book 0, 1752-1773, Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1982. WorldCat
• 1639-1850 Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records 1639-1850 at Ancestry — index, incomplete ($)
• 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1753-1772; 1773 – 1782 – Images of Wills and Estates. Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1773-1854 Images of Wills, Inventories, Accounts Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1783-1792; 1792 – 1797; 1798 – 1804 – Images of Wills and Estates. Virginia Pioneers ($)
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Will Book 1, 1773-1783, Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1984. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson. Will Book 2, 1783-1792, Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1989?. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson, and James Hadley Prendergast. Halifax County, Virginia Will Book 2, 1783-1792. Athens, GA: Iberian, 1996. WorldCat
• Chiarito, Marian Dodson, and James Hadley Prendergast. Will Books, Halifax County, Virginia. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1984. WorldCat
• Halifax County, Virginia Wills, 1792-1797. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1991. WorldCat
• Digital Images of Halifax County Wills 1792-1797; 1798-1804. See names of Testators. Virginia Pioneers
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

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

• General: Warren, Mary Bondurant. Halifax County, Virginia Colonial Poll and Tithables Lists. Danielsville, GA: Heritage Papers, 1991. WorldCat
• 1752-1790 Tithables, 1752-90, Southsider [Charlotte Court House, Va.], Vol. 19, No. 1 (2000). Note: This article lists only totals of tithables from the plea books, no names.
• 1755-1780 Warren, Mary Bondurant. Halifax County, Virginia Colonial Poll [1764-1769] and Tithables Lists [1755-1780]. Danielsville, Georgia: Heritage Papers, 1991. Available at FS Library.
• 1771 Halifax Tithables, 1771, Piedmont Lineages, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Aug. 2001).
• 1771 Tithables, 1771, Southside Virginian, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Jan. 1985); online at Internet Archive - free.
• 1782 1782 Halifax County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List; index online at New River Notes - free.
• 1782-1850 Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850. FS films 2024563-2024568 - images.
• 1782 1782 Tax List at USGenWeb Archives.
• 1782 Tax List, 1782, District 2, Halifax County Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Dec. 2001). [Halifax County, Virginia or North Carolina? check]
• 1782 Weaver, Jeffrey C. 1782 Halifax County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List. Saltville, VA: New River Notes Books, 2005. WorldCat
• 1782-1791 Halifax County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1791. Miami Beach: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1998. WorldCat
• 1782-1832 Heinegg, Paul. "Halifax County Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1832," Free African Americans.com. Heinegg abstracted free blacks listed in these records. This list includes some families with Native American ancestry as well.
• 1783 Personal Property (or Land) Tax List, 1783; index online at Revolutionary War Service website - free.
• 1787 Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. 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. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. Available through the FamilySearch Catalog ; FS Library. The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Halifax County is included in Vol. 1.
• 1800 Tax List, 1800, The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 26, No. 4 (Oct. 1982); Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jan. 1983); Vol. 27, No. 2 (Apr. 1983); Vol. 27, No. 3 (Jul. 1983); Vol. 27, No. 4 (Oct. 1983). Available at FS Library.
• 1810 Schreiner-Yates, Netti. A Supplement to the 1810 Census of Virginia: Tax Lists of the Counties for which the Census is Missing. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1971. Available at FS Library. The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax lists. Halifax County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.
• 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. Available at FS Library. The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Halifax County is included in Vol. 2.
• 1867 Internal Revenue Tax Warning Notice, 1867, Piedmont Lineages, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Aug. 2007).
• 1901 Delinquent Tax List, 1901, Piedmont Lineages, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Aug. 2007).

Vital Records

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

Birth

• 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
• 1584-1917 Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1853-1871 - Halifax County Birth Index 1853-1871. Batch C868762 at FamilySearch - free.

Marriage

• 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index ($) — index $
• 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1740-1850 Virginia Marriages 1740-1850 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1750s-1780s "Halifax County Marriage Bonds" [1750s-1780s], The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Jan., 1912):202-204. Available at FS Library; digital version at JSTOR - free.
• 1750-1800 Marriage Records, Halifax County, Virginia, c. 1750-1800. Chatham, VA?: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1981. WorldCat
• 1753-1800 Knorr, Catherine Lindsay. Marriage Bonds and Ministers' Returns of Halifax County, Virginia, 1753-1800. Pine Bluff, AR: C.L. Knorr, 1957. Hathi Trust's - free.
• 1753-1854 Ricks, Joel. Halifax County, Virginia Marriage Bonds 1753-1854. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co., 1997. WorldCat
• 1753-1905 - Halifax County Marriage Index 1753-1905. Batch M868761 at FamilySearch - free.
• 1755-1825 Ridlen, Colleen. Halifax County, Virginia Marriages, 1755-1825. Beech Grove, IN: Self-published, n.d. WorldCat
• 1756-1800 Gioe, Joan Colbert. Halifax County, Virginia Marriages, 1756-1800: Plus Parents' Consents. Indianapolis: The Researchers, 1993. WorldCat
• 1771-1989 Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1773-1854 Virginia Pioneers ($)
• 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index ; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
• 1801-1831 Chiarito, Marian Dodson, James Hadley Prendergast, and Catherine Lindsay Knorr. Marriages of Halifax County, Virginia, 1801-1831. Nathalie, VA: Clarkton Press, 1985. WorldCat
• 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

• Deaths are online in the Library of Virginia's Death Index of Virginia, 1853-1896, sponsored by The Virginia Genealogical Society.
• 1715-1901 Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 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 — index & images

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Halifax 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

• Caswell North Carolina FamilySearch Center
• Danville Virginia FamilySearch Center
• Eden North Carolina FamilySearch Center

• Blue Ridge Regional Library - Ridgeway Branch - an affiliate library
• Blue Ridge Regional Library - Martinsville Branch - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Halifax County Regional Library
Multiple branches
Website

Museums

L.E. Coleman African-American Museum
3011 Mountain Road
Halifax, VA 24558
Website

South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History
1500 Wilborn Avenue
South Boston, VA 24592
Website

Societies

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

Halifax County Historical Society
Website

South Central Virginia Genealogical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 295
Charlotte Court House, VA 23923
Email: vascvgs@yahoo.com
Website

The Virginia-North Carolina Piedmont Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2272
Danville, VA 24541

Websites

• Halifax County, Virginia USGENWEB
• The Crossing of the Dan Exhibit (The Prizery)
• Halifax County, Virginia (Census Bureau "Quick Facts")
• Halifax County, Virginia (official county government website)
• Halifax County, Virginia (Wikipedia)
• Halifax County, Virginia Genealogy (Halifax.com)
• Halifax County Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Halifax County, Virginia GenWeb
• Halifax County, Virginia GenWeb Archives
• The History of Halifax County
• The History of Halifax County, Virginia 1750-1940
• The Native Americans of Halifax County, Virginia & the Early Explorers
• Old Halifax
• Cyndi's List
• 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

• Dorman, John Frederick. "A Guide to the Counties of Virginia: Halifax County," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1968):184-187. Available at FS Library; digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($).