Virginia is 401 years old today!

Happy Birthday to Virginia!
The first colonists arrived in Jamestown, Virginia on May 14, 1607 and with ups and downs the Commonwealth has prospered ever since.

GenealogyBank.com is packed with early Americana – including millions of Virginia items go back to the 1700s.

Newspapers
GenealogyBank has more than 100 Virginia newspapers – containing more than 2.3 Million articles. There are multiple titles going back to the 1700s and early 1800s.
Click here for a complete list

Also – GenealogyBank has more than 4 Million Virginia obituaries and death records in the America’s Obituaries and Social Security Death Index (SSDI) sections.

Other Virginia Resources in GenealogyBank

Search for Virginia documents in:
American State Papers and US Serial Set in the Historical Documents section.
There are thousands of Virginia documents in the Historical Books section that are unique to GenealogyBank.


For example – here is a petition to Congress signed by the local Virginia residents south of the James River that were seeking improved conditions on the Turnpike to Richmond.



Here is an example of an early Virginia funeral sermon – for Mrs. Ann Boyd who died 1819.



Terrific sources.

Beyond GenealogyBank – here are other useful sites for Virginia research
Virginia Census Records
1850, 1880, 1900 – Free Online – FamilySearchLabs


Virginia Digital Books Online
American Memory Project
Documenting the American South

Google Books
Making of America

Library of Virgina – Virginia Land Records

Virginia Genealogical Society
Be sure to see the back issues of their newsletter that you can download and read online

Virginia Historical Society
Current issue of Virginia Magazine of History & Biography
Be sure to see their online research guides

Virginia Vital Records
See the collection at the Library of Virginia
Virginia Department of Vital Records

Jacquelyn Ladd Ricker – 1935-2008

Long time office manager of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists has passed away.
A prolific genealogist and writer – she was a long time presence in Connecticut genealogical circles. She is best known for her republication of the Barbour Index to Connecticut Vital Records which was issued as a CD-ROM under the title: The Ricker Compilation of Vital Records of Early Connecticut Based on the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records and Other Statistical Sources.

Our condolences to the family.

Here is her obituary – posted by permission of GenealogyBank.com

Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY) – April 4, 2008
RICKER, Jacquelyn Ladd 1935-2008
Was born September 25th, 1935 in Elmira, NY, and passed away March 30th, 2008 in Payson, AZ. Mrs. Ricker graduated from Southside High School in Elmira, NY, and then attended Upsala College in East Orange, NJ. Mrs. Ricker returned to her native Elmira, and worked at the American Bridge Division of the U.S. Steel Corp in Elmira, where she met her husband.


After moving to Glastonbury, CT, she volunteered in several civic organizations while rearing their two sons. Then Mrs. Ricker began a career in genealogy and worked her way up to be Office Manager of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists. During this time, she became an active member in several genealogy organizations. She also became a prolific researcher of genealogy archives and was a noted author and editor of several genealogy publications. After retiring from The Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Mrs. Ricker moved to Payson, AZ with her husband and continued her extensive Genealogy research and publishing.

She also has been active with the Library Friends of the Payson Public Library, The Gila County Historical Society and The Zane Grey Cabin Foundation. Mrs. Ricker was predeceased earlier this year by her husband of nearly 50 years, David T. Ricker. Mrs. Ricker is survived by her sons, David W. Ricker of Dallas, TX, and Dr. Jonathan E. Ricker (Nancy) of Danville, KY. She is also survived by her mother, Arthea Johnson of Prescott, AZ; two brothers, William E. Ladd (Mary) of Scottsdale, AZ and Gary A. Ladd (Vivian); two grandchildren, Jeffrey L Ricker and Rachel E. Ricker, both of Danville, KY; four nephews and one niece.

A celebration of life will be held from 11:00 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008, at Messinger Payson Funeral Home, 302 W. Aero Dr., Payson, AZ. Memorial gifts may be sent in Mrs. Ricker’s honor to the Library of Friends, Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Rd., Payson, AZ 85541; Payson Humane Society, 812 S. McLane Rd, Payson, AZ 85541; RTA Hospice, 511 S. Mud Springs Rd., Payson, AZ 85541; and the Zane Grey Cabin Foundation, 201 N. McLane Rd., Payson, AZ 85541.

It’s February and Valentine’s Day is almost here.

GenealogyBank is off to a great start this month. It added 2.9 Million new records and documents – bringing the collection to well over 216 Million documents – that’s an estimated 1.5 Billion names.

GenealogyBank added content for 41 newspapers from 20 States including titles like:

Springfield (MA) Republican 1861-1909
Boston Journal (1870-1899)Philadelphia
North American (1841-1877) and another 38 titles.


It’s February and Valentine’s Day is almost here.

I found an early Valentine’s story about the second wedding of Amos Broadwater (1804-1901). It was published in the Baltimore Sun 28 Jan 1895.

Amos also lived in Garrett County, MD family – but he was more prosperous than Wooly Bittinger. He was born in Loudon County, VA and died in New Germany, Garrett County, Maryland.

His wife of more than 60 years, Sarah (Sigler) Broadwater (1809-1893) died in 1893. By that time their family had grown to 12 children; 99 grandchildren and 102 great-grandchildren.

In January of 1895 at age 91 Amos, who was “hale and hearty and looks much younger,” fell in love again and married Eliza Warwick a blushing bride of 51 years. The article went on to say “Mr. Broadwater is the oldest man in Garrett County and is quite well to do.” The new couple had no children.

GenealogyBank is packed with historical documents and vital records. With more than 2 Million records added this month it is easy to document your family tree.

Give it a try at our special low introductory rate – only $9.95 – give it a try right now.