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Culpeper County History and Information

County History | Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |
????? County Virginia Map

Culpeper County probably was name for Catherine Culpeper, or for her mother, Margaret Lady Culpeper, or for Thomas Culpeper, second baron Culpeper of Thoresway, governor of Virginia from 1677 to 1683, or for their family, which long held proprietary right in the Northern Neck.  It was formed from Orange County in 1749.  Its area is 389 square miles, and the county seat is Culpeper.  The population is 34,262 according to the 2000 census. See Extended History for More information.

The Official County Website is located at http://www.culpepercounty.gov . Cities, Towns and Communities include Culpeper

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Click Here to Search Virginia Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records!
Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Culpeper County Court Records

See Also Virginia Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Culpeper County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1781, Land Records from 1749, Probate Records from 1749 and Court Records from 1749 and is located at the County Courthouse on 135 W. Cameron Street, Suite 103, Culpeper Virginia 22701; (540) 727-3438 (Phone) .

Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a constitutional official that is elected by the voters of Culpeper County. The Clerk is charged with responsibilities that include judicial and non-judicial duties.

The Clerk provides administrative support for Circuit Court by preparing, recording, and maintaining court orders, subpoenas, and pleadings. The Clerk's Office also manages juries, disposal of evidence, collection of criminal fines and costs. Inquiries concerning the Court's procedures and policies and the records should be directed to the Clerk's Office, which serves as a repository for the Court's records.

Non-judicial duties include the authority to probate wills, grant administration of estates, appoint guardians, issue marriage licenses. The Clerk acts as the Register of Deeds by recording all deeds, deeds of trust, real estate liens, releases and powers of attorney.

The Clerk acts as the county archivist by maintaining records of the Court, real estate, probate and numerous other county records. Records management is an immense and critical responsibility of the Clerk's Office due to the volume and types of records.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include: Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850, Virginia County Records, Volume VI, Volume VII and Volume IX

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Culpeper County, Virginia Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Virginia Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.
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Click Here to Search Virginia Birth, Marriage & Death Records!
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Culpeper County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Virginia

  Vital Statistics include the official recordation of marriages, births, and deaths. Bible records, cemetery records, and church records are private sources that may supplement the official records.

A law requiring the systematic statewide recording of births and deaths was passed by the General Assembly on April 11 1853. Every commissioner of revenue registered births and deaths in his district annually and forwarded the information to the clerk of court, who then supplied the information to the state Auditor of Public Accounts. This law continued in effect until 1896. The Auditor turned the lists over to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in 1918 and the registers were later transferred to the state archives. The Library of Virginia has copies of surviving birth and death records for the period 1853 to 1896 and marriage records prior to 1936.

Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records is located at The Shops at Willow Lawn, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Suite 275, Richmond, VA 23220; Ph: (804) 662-6200. The mailing address is VDH, Office of Vital Records, and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia, 23218-1000. They have the following records:

  • Births and Deaths: 1853-1896 and June 1912 to present. Birth cards are no longer available. Only the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Richmond have records between 1896 and June 14, 1912.
  • Marriage Records: 1853 to the present. If the records are not available from the State office, they should be available from the Clerk of Court in county where the marriage license was issued.
  • Divorce Records: 1918 to the present. If the records are not available from the State office, they should be available from the Clerk of Court in county where the marriage license was issued.
  • Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Birth records are public information 100 years after the date of the event; death, marriage, and divorce records, 50 years after the event. Due to limited resources they are unable to conduct geneology searches. Contact the Library of Virginia for assistance at http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

For all birth records, please allow 10 business days. All marriage records, death records, divorce records, non-automated birth records and documents requiring amendments, please allow a delivery time of 4 to 6 weeks. Marriage and divorce records are available at the Circuit Court in which the event took place. Recent death records are available at the local health department where the death certificate was filed. You can also Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering HERE

The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." Make checks and money orders should be made payable to "State Health Department ". Please do not send cash. Credit Cards may be uses by using VitalChek services. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to:Vital Records, VDH, Office of Vital Records, and Health Statistics, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, Virginia, 23218-1000 . You can download an application online for Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce Certificates. You can also Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering HERE

There are a few online databases for Marriage Records which include: Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850, Virginia Marriages to 1800, Virginia Marriages before 1824 and Virginia Marriages, 1851-1929

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Virginia Voter Lists & Census Records!
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Culpeper County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Virginia

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Culpeper County, Virginia are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Culpeper County, Virginia are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Culpeper County, Virginia Census Books at Amazon.com
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Culpeper County Maps & Atlases

 

Virginia Antique Maps & Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Virginia and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Virginia showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Virginia showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Maps. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Virginia Military Records!
Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

Culpeper County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Virginia

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American. Read more detailed information on Virginia Military Records and the various wars.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Culpeper County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Virginia's tax records are a rich—and largely untapped—resource. During the Colonial period, there were three basic forms of taxation: the quitrent, the parish levy, and the poll tax.

The quitrent was a land tax that had its roots in English manorial society where “the land obligations due the manor, such as plowing and haying the lord's land, were computed to an annual money payment. Upon payment, the obligations were `quit' for the year.” Those living south of the Rappahannock River paid a quitrent to the Crown. An original, incomplete list of land owners for the region in 1704 is in the Public Record Office in London and has been published several times, not always reliably.

Residents of the Northern Neck, between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, paid quitrents to the agents of Lord Fairfax. Many original rent rolls of the Fairfax proprietary are housed at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. Extant original rent rolls and facsimiles for Virginia are available at The Library of Virginia.

The parish levy was an annual tax paid by all tithables for support of their ministers, maintenance of the parishes' glebe lands (the parsonage and lands producing income for the parish), and support of the poor of the parish.

The poll tax, except for a brief period from 1645 to 1648, was the main source of revenue for the colony of Virginia. The annual poll tax was computed by dividing the total expenses of the colony and individual counties by the total number of tithables. The result was levied on each tithable.

Tithables were variously defined during the colonial period. The first definition, in 1624, was “every male head above sixteen years of age.” All agricultural workers were added in 1629. In 1643 all males and black females aged sixteen or over were tithables. Imported male servants of any age were added in 1649.

The definition of “tithable” was rewritten in 1658. Tithables included free males aged sixteen or over, imported blacks of either sex, imported white male servants, and Indian servants of either sex; white women employed in agriculture were added in 1662. Complaints from planters with increasing numbers of indentured servants and slaves led to a revision in 1680 that declared Virginia-born male slaves taxable at age twelve and imported male servants taxable at age fourteen; nonwhite women and free males remained taxable at age sixteen.

The laws of Virginia were revised in 1705. From then until 1782, all males and nonwhite females aged sixteen or over were tithables. Wives of free nonwhite males were added in 1723.

Virginia's tax system changed after the Revolutionary War to include taxing land and personal property in 1782, with further revision in 1787. The bulk of those tax lists prior to 1850 survive and are available on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Culpeper County, Virginia Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Culpeper County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Virginia Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Culpeper Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1293, Culpeper, VA 22701-6293; (540) 825-5466
    A Register of Christenings and Marriages for 1794 in St. Mark's Parish, Culpeper, August 16, 1794 - transcribed and edited by Donna Stevens Boyd.  The information in this publication covers the years 1794-1871.  Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Publications may be purchased at CGS meetings or by mail.  If purchasing by mail, please make your check payable to CGS and mail it to CGS, P.O. Box 1326, Culpeper, VA 22701.  Please add $2.00 for postage and handling.
  • Culpeper Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 785, Culpeper, VA 22701
  • Museum of Culpeper History, 140 E. Davis Street, Culpeper, VA 22701; (540) 829-1749
  • Culpeper Town and County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper, VA 22701; (540) 825-8691
  • TOWN OF CULPEPER, VIRGINIA, Town Clerk's Office, 118 West Davis Street, Culpeper, Virginia 22701, Phone: 540-727-3422,   FAX: 540-727-3469 Health Department, 640 Laurel Street, Culpeper, VA, 22701, (540) 829-7350
  • Local Virginia Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
  • The Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000; 804-692-3500
  • Virginia Genealogical Society, 5001 West Broad Street, Suite 115, Richmond, Virginia 23230-3023; Telephone (804) 285-8954
    Please note that because of our close proximity to the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Genealogical Society does not maintain a research facility or surname material.
  • Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220, Phone: 804.358.4901
    Mail: P.O.Box 7311, 23221-0311;Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-5 / Sunday 1-5 (galleries only)
  • Virginia Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
  • Virginia Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Click Here to Search Virginia Obituary Records!
This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

Culpeper County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Virginia

There are many churches and cemeteries in Culpeper County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Culpeper County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Unlike New England, colonial Virginia left few early church records. The first Virginians were members of the Church of England, or Anglican church, which became the Episcopal Church in 1786. Early parish registers are incomplete and challenging to use. Parish boundaries changed rapidly and are hard to pinpoint.

Since colonial times, many religious groups have established congregations in Virginia, including Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Quaker or Friends, to name a few. Except for the Quakers, few of these groups kept records containing such genealogical information as birth, marriage, and death dates. A number of church vestry books and registers have been published and are available at The Library of Virginia and the FHL.

The list of published tombstone inscriptions for Virginia, if a comprehensive list existed, would be lengthy. The DAR has compiled an extensive collection of Virginia tombstone inscriptions. The collection, along with other cemetery record publications, can be found at the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., The Library of Virginia, the Virginia Historical Society, and the FHL.

Cemetery interment registers and gravestone inscriptions may often be sources of useful information for Virginia researchers. The state government does not have a long, uninterrupted, centralized file of birth and death records that are readily accessible to researchers. Wars, floods, and fires have destroyed the vital record of many of Virginia's counties. Oftentimes, information found in cemetery records and on gravestones cannot be found anywhere else. When looking for a specific cemetery in Virginia, you may wish to start with the following comprehensive resource.

Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Virginia Family Tree Records!
The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Culpeper County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Culpeper County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

In an age where many communities often resemble everywhere else, the Town of Culpeper has managed to maintain a unique identity and distinctive appearance. The Town has an intact and thriving downtown, which attracts people from around the region. Culpeper has a small town atmosphere and, in fact, was recognized as "One of America's Top 10 Small Town's" in 1993. With approximately 15,000 residents, the Town enjoys proximity to Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and Richmond. The Town, however, sees itself as a distinctive market center in the upper Piedmont region of Virginia.

The Town of Culpeper was established by the Virginia House of Burgesses on February 22, 1759. The location of the Town, with its high ground and ample water supply and proximity to the mountains, was described as "a high and pleasant situation in the County of Culpeper where the courthouse [constructed c. 1750] now stands." The original town plan, which forms the core of modern Culpeper, was 10 town blocks; five blocks flanking Main Street (then Coleman Road) running from Spencer Street to Stevens Street. The original alleys remain and are in service.

The Town of Culpeper was made by proud and valiant fighting men and was significant in both the Revolution and the Civil War. In 1775, the Culpeper Minutemen were formed in "Clayton's Old Field" (near the site of present-day Yowell Meadow Park). The Minutemen were called upon and fought bravely in the Revolution and throughout campaigns in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. The Town was strategically important due to the presence of the Orange and Alexandria Railroads, and the junction of 4 major roads. Both Confederate and Union troops occupied the Town of various occasions during the Civil War. During the Winter of 1863/64, over 100,000 Union troops, which included 4 Union divisions (including U.S. Grant), occupied the Town. Local tradition is that the forests were denuded for firewood within a 20 mile radius.

Many of the key players of the Civil War were seen in the Town of Culpeper. In 1775, the Culpeper Minutemen were formed in "Clayton's Old Field" (near the site of present-day Yowell Meadow Park). Culpeper. The armies of Jackson, Stuart, Pope, and Meade marched through and were quartered in Culpeper.

The Town was in the midst of a very active region for battles during the Civil War. Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain were fought in Culpeper County. Wilderness, Chancellorsville, and Fredericksburg were fought to the east. First Bull Run and Second Bull Run were fought to the North. New Market was fought to the west, and Richmond was fought to the south. Over 60% of the Civil War was fought on Virginia soil, with a heavy concentration in the Virginia Piedmont.

The Town has been evolving over a 250-year period and contains many examples of residential and commercial architecture. There are 14 architectural "high-styles" found in Culpeper, including Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian, as well as vernacular examples. The Town of Culpeper National Register District contains over 140 structures, one of the largest historic districts in this part of the Commonwealth.

Culpeper County Courthouse
(540) 727-3438  -> Circuit Court  (taken from their website -http://www.co.culpeper.va.us/ )
"The Clerk's staff prepares records, maintains court orders, subpoenas and pleadings, and manages the Court's docket and juries. Non-judicial functions include admitting or denying wills to probate, qualifying executors and guardians, recording land records, deeds, powers of attorney and real estate transactions; processing and recording judgments, financing statements, marriage licenses, passports and concealed weapons permits, and handling a variety of appointments. Fiscal responsibilities are to provide for the maintenance and investment of Trust and Condemnation funds, and the collection of court fines, real estate transfer fees, recordation taxes, and other fees.
Telephone: 540-727-3438"

 Gen. District Court (540) 727-3417
"Combined Court The Combined Court is made up of the General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. The responsibility of this office includes processing all criminal, traffic and civil cases coming before the Court, and providing staff to the Judge during all trials and hearings. In addition, the Clerk's staff prepares records; maintains court orders, subpoenas and pleadings; and manages the Court's docket. The Clerk's financial responsibilities are collection of court fines and costs.
Telephone: General District 540-727-3417
Juvenile & Domestic Relations 540-727-3418"

Health Department
"Health Department The Health Department is responsible for promoting the health of County residents by reducing the spread of communicable diseases and providing preventive services such as health education and risk identification. The Department receives funding from two sources. The first of these two sources is a "cooperative" appropriation by the State and the County, of which 55% is State and 45% is County.            Telephone: 540-829-7350"

Culpeper Genealogical Society

The County Clerk's Office does NOT do research or copying, as they are already overburdened and understaffed.   Refer requests for such to the Culpeper County Genealogical Society. We have a small group of researchers, and we charge $10.00 per hr. for research + copying & postage.  If your project is large and will require a lot of time, perhaps a private, professional researcher is your best bet.  Better yet, come to Culpeper!  We have delightful B&B's and lots of good restaurants, as well as the genealogical information.

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