Virginia

Biography of James B. Summons, Jr.

James B. Summons, Jr., is one of the early pioneers of Riverside, having located in the colony in 1870. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born in 1845. His grandfather, Captain John B. Summons, was a prominent and well-known citizen of Cincinnati, an owner of river steamers carrying the mail, and commander of same. He was a member of the city council of that city for more than twenty-five years. He was a Kentuckian by birth, who in his early manhood settled in Cincinnati. Mr. Summons was reared and educated in Cincinnati until 1861, receiving his education in the … Read more

Biography of Benjamin B. Harris

Benjamin B. Harris, attorney at law, City Clerk of San Bernardino, and treasurer of the Society of California Pioneers-of San Bernardino County, was born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1824. When seventeen years of age he went to Nashville, Tennessee, and was there educated, graduating at Nashville University in 1845; studied law in a private office in that State, and was admitted to the bar of Tennessee. In 1847 he went to Panola County, Texas, expecting to remain there permanently, but the climate being malarious he suffered with liver troubles, which necessitated a change in his purposes. After the discovery … Read more

Moratoc Tribe

Moratoc Indians. A tribe described in 1686 as living 160 miles up Roanoke river, perhaps near the south Virginia line.  a map of that period places their village on the north side of the river, which then bore their name. They are said to have been an important tribe which refused to hold intercourse with the English.

Biographical Sketch of Andrew B. Paris

Andrew B. Paris, attorney, San Bernardino, was born in Virginia, in 1839, and was educated in the Virginia Military Institute, at which he was graduated in 1860. Upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Confederate army, served four years, rose to the rank of Colonel, and at the close of hostilities was chief of artillery of General Hoke’s division of General Joseph E. Johnston’s army. After the war closed he studied law in the University of Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. Locating in Charlotte County, Virginia, he practiced his profession till 1873. … Read more

Biography of Stewart Montgomery Wall

Stewart Montgomery Wall, a California pioneer of 1852, was born in Virginia in 1834, and moved with his parents to southwestern Missouri when a lad five years of age and there resided until he came to the Pacific Coast. During the gold excitement of 1850, his father, William Wall, came via Santa Fe and Yuma with his two oldest sons to California and spent a year in the mines up about Auburn in search of the coveted yellow dust. In 1851 the old gentleman returned to Missouri and the following spring started for the Golden State with the rest of … Read more

Biography of John Hartley Smith

John Hartley Smith, the founder and president of the First National Bank of San Bernardino, and one of the most thorough business men and experienced bankers in Southern California, was born in Jackson County, Virginia, in 1835. He came to Ohio at the age of fifteen, and in 1853 he came to California and spent two years in the gold mines, chiefly in Mariposa County. He was quite successful, and in 1855 returned to Ohio with considerable money and a fund of experience which has proved of great value to him in his subsequent business career, as well as fraught … Read more

Biography of Charles Henry Tower

Famous in the annals of American history is the long-established family of Charles Henry Tower, for its representatives helped establish and build up the New England colonies, were always ready to fight for freedom and justice, and participated in the early French, the Revolutionary, and the Civil Wars. Moreover, these men of fine old stock, sturdy and hardworking, were in the habit of using their hands in some trade or occupation of immediate benefit to the community. These traits came down from his forebears to Charles Henry Tower, who in his eighty-nine years and until retirement, was in some way … Read more

Virginia African American Genealogy

Old Slave

African American Genealogy online research is much more difficult due to the scant nature of record keeping for African American’s prior to the Civil War. This is the reason for creating a separate section for African Americans much like we have for Native Americans who’s research can also be hampered by the available records. The links below provide an accurate reflection of what is available to be searched for African American genealogy. Conducting successful African American genealogical research can be a challenging adventure. In recent years, the challenge has been lessened and the adventure heightened by the growing body of … Read more

Virginia African American Census Records

Census online research should begin with what is available online for free. If this proves fruitful then congratulations! If not, then I would suggest signing up for the online census images (links to the right) where you can access all the available online Florida census information directly from your computer at home. You should also check AccessGenealogy’s Census Records Following records (hosted at Free African Americans) Other Free Heads of Household in the 1810 Virginia Census, by family name Other Free Heads of Household in the 1810 Virginia Census, by county Augusta County 1860 Slaveowners Census (hosted at The Valley … Read more

Virginia African American Cemeteries – Black Cemeteries

Cladstone Church of God and Cemetery

Cemeteries provide us with a unique link to our past. The following list shows Virginia African American cemeteries which primarily contain people of color.  You should also check Access Genealogy Cemeteries for additional listings. Accomack County Virginia African American Cemeteries Christ Union Baptist Cemetery Odd Fellows Cemetery Albemarle County Virginia African American Cemeteries Hosted at Carter G. Woodson Institute Blenheim Cemetery Doyle’s River Plantation Hearns Curry Cemetery Hugh Carr Cemetery Maruy Family Cemetery Maple Wood Cemetery Oakwood Cemetery Rose Hill Cemetery Daughters of Zion Cemetery African American Cemeteries in Albemarle & Amherst Counties Virginia contains thousands of family burial grounds and … Read more

Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements of Virginia

These pages will provide an alphabetical listing for all the villages, towns, and settlements in what was the state of Virginia at the time the Handbook of American Indian of North America was written. Acconoc to Aureuapeugh Bulltown Cantaunkack to Cuttatawomen Dogi Gangasco Hassinunga  

H Virginia Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Hassinunga A tribe of the Manahoac confederacy living about 1610 on the headwaters of Rappahannock River, Virginia.

Gangasco

Gangasco (from shingascui, ‘level, wet, and grassy ground’. Heckewelder). A village of the Powhatan confederacy formerly near the present Eastville, Northampton County, Virginia. It was the most important village on the lowest part of the East shore in 1722. The inhabitants, who were of the Accomac or the Accohanoc tribe, were known as Gingaskins and remained there until they were driven off in 1833, being then much mixed with negroes. (J. M.) Alternate Spellings: Gangascoe, Beverly, Virginia, 199, 1722. Gingaskins, Wise in Schoolcraft, Indian Tribes, v, 36, 1855 (name used for the band).    

D- Virginia Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements

A complete listing of all the Indian villages, towns and settlements as listed in Handbook of Americans North of Mexico. Dogi. Mentioned by Lederer (Discov., 2, 1672) as a people who inhabited the piedmont region of Virginia before the appearance of the historic tribes in that section. They were extinct at the time of his journey in 1670. Apparently distinct from the Doeg (Nanticoke).

Biography of John Bogart

JOHN BOGART AN Albanian by birth, who holds an important position as a state officer, and whose abilities have brought him into wide notice, is the Hon. John Bogart, the accomplished state engineer and surveyor. He was born in Albany, on the 8th of February, 1836. His ancestors came from Holland to this city as early as 1640, and owned lands in Beverwyck, now Albany, in 1641; they were consequently among its very earliest settlers. And here their descendants lived in characteristically simple, honest, industrious ways, until they established comfortable and substantial homes for themselves and competencies for their children. … Read more

Pamunkey Indians of Virginia

1910 photo of Pamunkey Indians re-enacting the story of Pocahontas.

The Pilgrim Fathers of New England, the Dutch traders and merchants of Manhattan island and the Hudson, the Quaker colonists of Pennsylvania, the Jesuit missionaries and Cavalier grantees of Maryland and Virginia, all encountered the native tribes and confederacies of this great stock. This collection looks at the past history of the Pamunkey Indians of Virginia up until the 20th century.

Early History of the Pamunkey Indians

At the time of the settlement of Jamestown, in 1607, that region lying in Virginia between Potomac and James rivers was occupied by three great Indian confederacies, each of which derived its name from one of its leading tribes. They were: (1) The Mannahoac, who lived on the head waters of Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers; (2) The Monocan, who occupied the banks of the upper James (3) The Powhatan, who in habited all that portion of the tidewater region lying north of the James. The last-named powerful confederacy was composed of thirty warlike tribes, having 2, 400 warriors, whose disastrous … Read more

Present Home of Pamunkey Indians

The Pamunkey Indians of today live at what is known as “Indian-town” which is situated on and comprises the whole of a curiously-shaped neck of land, extending into Pamunkey River and adjoining King William County, Virginia, on the south. The “town,” as it is somewhat improperly called, forms a very small part of their original territory. It is almost entirely surrounded by water, being connected with the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The peculiar protection which is afforded in time of war by its natural position in all probability accounts for the presence of these Indians in this … Read more

How the Pamunkey Indians Live

The Pamunkey Indians make their living for the most part in true aboriginal style. Their chief occupations are hunting and fishing and although they do not neglect their truck patches they cherish a hearty dislike for manual labor and frequently hire negroes to come in and work their little farms. The deer the raccoon the otter the musk-rat and the mink are captured on the reservation. As many as sixteen deer have been killed in this small area in one season. The skins of all these animals are a good source of income and the flesh except of the mink … Read more