Lee County, Virginia Genealogy

United States

Virginia

Lee County

Guide to Lee 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: Jonesville Organized: 13 May 1793 Parent County(s): Russell Neighboring Counties Bell (KY) • Claiborne (TN) • Hancock (TN) • Harlan (KY) • Scott • Wise See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

Lee County is located in the far southwestern corner of the Commonwealth of Virginia and shares borders with Kentucky and Tennessee. Lee County is named for Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia, 1791-1794.

County Courthouse

Lee County Courthouse
33640 Main Street
PO Box 326
Jonesville, VA 24263-0326
Phone: 540-346-7763
Lee County Website

Clerk Circuit Court has birth and death records 1853-1877, marriage records from 1830, divorce records from 1832, probate records from 1800, and court and land records from 1793

Lee 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	1830	1853	1793	1793	1800	1810
* Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1912. General compliance year is unknown.

Record Loss

Lost censuses: 1800, 1810, 1890 1863 A significant number of loose records prior to 1860 including chancery and judgments are missing, probably destroyed when the courthouse burned in October 1863. Bound volumes, including deeds, orders and will books survive. Visit the Library of Virginia's website to determine exactly what records have been lost and their Lost Records Localities Database to find additional resources. 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 Russell County, 13 May 1793 County seat: Jonesville 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
Jonesville Pennington Gap St. Charles
Unincorporated communities
Ben Hur Blackwater Darbyville Ewing Gibson Station	Jasper Monarch Ocoonita Olinger	Seminary Stickleyville Stone Creek Woodway
Census-designated places
Dryden Ewing	Keokee Rose Hill

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 Lee 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.

• 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.	%±
1800	3,538	—
1810	4,694	32.7%
1820	4,256	−9.3%
1830	6,461	51.8%
1840	8,441	30.6%
1850	10,267	21.6%
1860	11,032	7.5%
1870	13,268	20.3%
1880	15,116	13.9%
1890	18,216	20.5%
1900	19,856	9.0%
1910	23,840	20.1%
1920	25,293	6.1%
1930	30,419	20.3%
1940	39,296	29.2%
1950	36,106	−8.1%
1960	25,824	−28.5%
1970	20,321	−21.3%
1980	25,956	27.7%
1990	24,496	−5.6%
2000	23,589	−3.7%
2010	25,587	8.5%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

1790 See Parent County.
1800 Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.
1810 Lost, but a substitute is available, see Taxation.

1830

• Simmons, Don. Lee County, Virginia, Census of 1830. [Virginia?]: D. Simmons, 1976. Available at FS Library; digital version at MyHeritage ($).

1840

• Douthat, James L. 1840 Mountain Empire of Virginia Census. Signal Mountain, Tenn.: Mountain Press, 2001. FS Catalog Collection 975.5 X2d 1840. Free online surname index and purchase details at Mountain Press website. Includes Lee County.

1890 Union Veterans' Census

• Virginia's Union Veterans: Eleventh Census of the United States 1890. By Ronald Ray Turner. FS Catalog book 975.5 X2t 1890; film 1425065, item 14. Includes residents of this county.
• 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census. Online at: Ancestry ($). Includes residents of this county. Includes this county.

Church Records

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• FamilySearch Places
  

Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):

1. Deep Spring (1797)

Lee County fell within the bounds of the Holston and Mountain Associations.

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

• Lee Circuit Court
• Library of Virginia's Virginia Memory: Chancery Records Index can be used to search for digital images of Lee County chancery records for the years 1857-1912.

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

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African American

• 1865-1872 Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1935-2009 Virginia, African-American Funeral Programs, 1935-2009 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• Kegley, Mary B. Free People of Colour: Free Negroes, Indians, Portuguese and Freed Slaves. Wytheville, Virginia: Kegley Books, 2003. FS Library
• Search the Library of Virginia's Virginia Untold collection for digitized records related to African Americans of Lee County.

Funeral Homes

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

Holding Funeral Home in Rose Hill Jones Family Services in Jonesville Mullins-Sturgill Funeral Home in Pennington Gap Pennington Gap Funeral Home in Pennington Gap Powell Valley Funeral Home in Jonesville Robinette Funeral Homes in Blackwater Robinette Funeral Homes in Jonesville Robinette Funeral Homes in Rose Hill

Genealogies

Compiled Genealogies by Surname

• See Lee 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

• Bicentennial Book Committee et al. Bicentennial History of Lee County, Virginia 1792-1992. n.p.: Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society and Don Mills, 1992. FS Catalog Collection 975.5735 H2b
• Laningham, Anne Wynn and Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales. Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and Adjacent Counties. 2 vols. Greensboro, N.C.: Media, Inc., 1977. FS Catalog Collection 975.5735 D2L v. 1
• Lockwood, Frances B. and Hattie Byrd Muncy Bales. Annotations, Corrections and Additions to Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia and Adjacent Counties. 1978. FS Catalog Collection 975.5735 D2L v. 2 supp

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

Local Histories

• Historical Facts of Lee County, Virginia. Pennington Gap, Va.: Pennington High School, 1930. FS Library; digital version at Ancestry ($).

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

• FamilySearch Places: Cities and Towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

Revolutionary War

• Kegley, Mary B. Revolutionary War Pension Applications of Southwest Virginia Soldiers. n.p.: M.B. Kegley, 1997. Available at FS Library. Includes Lee County pensioners.
• 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. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). 1967 reprint: FS Catalog Collection 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Lee County on page 135.

War of 1812

• 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 Catalog Collection 973 M2Lp v. 5. Online at: Internet Archive, Ancestry ($). See Vol. 5, Virginia, Lee County, p. 87. Identifies War of 1812 veterans living in this county in 1883.

Regiments. Lee County men served in the 94th Regiment.

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 Lee 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)

- 20th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate) - possibly from Lee County

- 25th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry (Confederate). Company B, Company G (Lee Rangers), Company H, and Company I (Lee Rangers aka Lee Greys).

- 32nd Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate) -possibly from Lee County

- 37th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company E (Walnut Hill Company).

- 48th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company D (Lee County Guards).

- 50th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (Confederate). Company A (Lee Rifles), Company B, and Company G (2nd).

- 64th Regiment, Virginia Mounted Infantry (Confederate). Companies A, B, C1, C2.
- Lee Home Guard

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 ($)
• 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 the Virginia Gazette and other Virginia newspapers (1736-1803), see: The Geography of Slavery in Virginia.

Other Records

Private Papers

• Bell, Annie W.B. Southwest Virginia Historical Records: Family Bible Records of the People Living in Lee County, Virginia Adjoining Historical Cumberland Gap, Tennessee One Year Before the Civil War Began, During which the Families were Separated, Many Never to Meet Again, as Taken from the 1860 Census of the United States ... 195-?. FS Library US/CAN Access Services Window 6015650-6015655.

Periodicals

Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin
Genealogical articles with abstracts of Lee County, Virginia records have been published in the Watauga Association of Genealogists Bulletin (39+ vols., 1972-present), the journal of the Watauga Association of Genealogists. The organization has posted tables of contents for most volumes on their website. Back issues are available for purchase.The FamilySearch Library has a complete collection FS Library US/CAN Books 976.897 B2w, including Margaret W. Hougland and Betty Jane Hylton's Bulletin Subject Index: The First Thirty Years, 1972-2001 (Johnson City, Tenn.: Watauga Association of Genealogists, 2002) FS Library US/CAN Book 976.897 B2w index 1972-2001.

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.
• 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1793-1944 General Index to Wills and Estates Virginia Pioneers.net ($)
• 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

The original Lee County Personal Property Tax Lists are held at the Library of Virginia. The FamilySearch Library has acquired microfilms the Library of Virginia made for the years 1795-1850: FS Library US/CAN Films 2024603-2024604.

The original Lee County Land Tax Lists are held at the Library of Virginia. The FamilySearch Library does not have microfilm copies of these records, but has acquired abstracts for select years published in genealogical journals.

Lee County is also fortunate in being part of the First Tax District whose detailed 1815 records survive in the Kincade Private Papers. The FamilySearch Library has acquired a microfilm copies of these records from the Library of Virginia: FS Library US/CAN Film 1993745 Item 1 and FS Library US/CAN Film 1993745 Item 2. These records were also abstracted, published, and indexed by Kegley (see below).

• 1795-1805 1795-1805 Lee County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists; indexes online at New River Notes.
• 1795-1799 1795-1799 Lee County, Virginia Land Tax Lists; indexes online at New River Notes.
• 1795-1850 Lee County, Virginia Personal property tax lists of Lee County, 1795-1850. Original records, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.; microfilmed reproduction available at FS films - images.
• 1806 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1806 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer 1986):129-130; Vol. 5, No. 3 (Fall 1986):195-198. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 5 (1986).
• 1807 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1807 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Fall 1986):198-199; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Winter 1986):263-267. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 5 (1986).
• 1809 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1809 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Spring 1987):33-34; Vol. 6, No. 2 (Summer 1987):120-123; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Fall 1987):191-192. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 6 (1987).
• 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. FS Library US/CAN Book 975.5 R4s. The source for this publication is the 1810 personal property tax list. Lee County is included because the 1810 Census for that county has been destroyed.
• 1810 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1810 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Summer 1987):120-123; Vol. 6, No. 3 (Fall 1987):192-193; Vol. 6, No. 4 (Winter 1987):276-277; Vol. 7, No. 1 (Spring 1988):61-62; Vol. 7, No. 3 (Fall 1988):190-192. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 6 (1987) ff.
• 1812 Kincaid, Bathsheba W. "Lee County, Virginia 1812 Land Tax Book," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Fall 1989):169-175. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 8 (1989).
• 1815 Kincaid, Bathsheba. "Lee County, Virginia Tax Book for 1815," The Mountain Empire Genealogical Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall 1985):175-176. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 D25m v. 4 (1985).
• 1815 Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. FS Library US/CAN Book 975 E4w v. 5. [The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Lee County is included in Vol. 5.]
• 1815 Kegley, Mary B. Southwest Virginia Tax Assessments, 1815: Grayson, Lee, Scott, Russell, Washington, and Wythe Counties. Wytheville, Va.: Kegley Books, 1991. Original edition and 1992 supplement: FS Library US/CAN Book 975.57R4k and FS Library US/CAN Book 975.57R4k supp. The source for this publication is a private collection of 1815 tax assessment tickets for the First District of Virginia. The tickets includes landowners' names, number of acres or lots, number of buildings along with descriptions, and number of slaves. N.B. These are not the 1815 land tax books.
• 1835 1835 Lee County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List; index online at New River Notes.

Vital Records

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

Birth

• 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

Marriage

• 1660-1800 Virginia Marriages 1660-1800 at Ancestry — index ($)
• Book 1 Lee County Marriages at VAGenWeb
• 1660-1959 Virginia, United States Marriages at at Findmypast — index ($) — 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 ($)
• 1771-1989 Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
• 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1851-1929 Virginia Marriages 1851-1929 (Ancestry) ($).
• 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
• 1853-1911 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 Lee 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

• Cumberland Gap Tennessee FamilySearch Center
• Kingsport Tennessee FamilySearch Center

• Washington County Public Library - Main Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Societies

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

Websites

• Lee Co., VAGenWeb. Part of the USGenWeb Project. Maps, name indexes, history.

• 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.