Genealogy

Part 1 – James L. Boggs, Sr., 1752 – 1835 – Son of John Boggs through Part VII – William Henderson Boggs, Jr. 1851 – 1933 with
Index

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The book Descendants of Patrick Porter, Jr and Elizabeth Pendleton, compiled by Norm Addington is now available at the Wise County Historical Society. The hardback book contains 359 pages, 120 photos, and is indexed.

The descendants of Patrick and Elizabeth Pendleton Porter are now located coast to coast and are steadily increasing. The descendants are connected by marriage with the following families: Addington, Archer, Atkinson, Auxier, Baker, Banks, Banner, Barton, Bingler, Binion, Blevins, Bush, Byington, Cassady, Collins, Cox, Cress, Crum, Culbertson, Dale, Dickerson, Dougherty, Easterling, Ecker, Fields, Flannery, Fletcher, Fraley, Fugate, Gibson, Grether, Hackney, Hager, Hartsock, Horn, Horne, Jayne, Johnson, Keith,  Kilgore, King, Laferty, Lambert, Lawson, Lee, Mann, Martin, McConnell, Miller, Mills, Moore, Morris, Music, Musick, Nash, Neece, Nickels, Osborne, Outen, Owens, Patrick, Peacock, Peery, Pendleton, Penix, Peters, Pope, Porter, Powers, Preston, Price, Quillen, Ramey, Ramsey, Ratliff, Reed, Reedy, Rice, Richmond, Ring, Robinson, Salyer, Sargent, Short, Shortt, Shoemaker, Sluss, Smith, Sparks, Spears, Spurlock, Stafford, Stapleton, Stephenson, Sweeney, Tanner, Taylor, Towe and Umberger

Sales Price $30.00.

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Mountains in Southwest Virginia

1. Orange – 1734-1738
2. Frederick -   formed from Orange 1738-1772
3. Augusta  – formed  from Frederick 1738-1770 – Organized in 1745
4. Botetourt – formed from Augusta 1772
5. Fincastle – formed from Botetourt  1772-1776
6. Montgomery – was formed from Fincastle 1776
7. Washington – formed from Fincastle in 1776
8. Kentucky – from Fincastle 1776-1780
9. Smyth – from Washington  1832
10. Tazewell – from Washington 1799
11. Russell – from Washington 1786
12. Buchanan – from Washington 1758
13. Scott – from Washington 1814
14. Lee – from  Washington 1792
15. Wise -  from Lee, Scott and Russell 1856
16. Dickenson – from Wise, Buchanan & Russell  1880

Originally, all the land belonging to Virginia west of the Blue Ridge was embraced in the County of Orange.  In 1738, Orange county west of the Blue Ridge was divided into two counties, Frederick and Augusta; and Augusta included the territory now comprising Wise.  In 1769, Augusta County was divided and all the land southwest from Lexington was called Botetourt County, named in honor of the then governor of Virginia, Lord Botetourt; and all the extreme southwestern portion of the State as well as the whole state of Kentucky was then in Botetourt County.  Later Botetourt County was divided and Fincastle County, including all the Western Portion was cut off.  In 1777, Fincastle in turn was divided into three counties, Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky.  Washington County, Virginia, is said to have been the first political unit ever named in honor of George Washington.  From Washington County were formed the following counties: Russell in 1786, Lee in 1792, and Scott in 1814.  Wise County was formed by taking parts of Russell, Lee and Scott Counties.  It had been estimated that the new county of Wise had but 3 percent of its land under cultivation; the remainder was in wilderness.

The above was taken from the book, The Story of Wise County, by Luther F. Addington.

I would like to add  that Dickenson County, “Virginia’s Baby” was taken from Wise, Russell and Buchanan Counties and named after W. J Dickenson. (F.S.)

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Many of our members have requested suggestions on how to do genealogical research in Virginia records. The following is an attempt to list the highlights of records that are available throughout Virginia.

Individuals using Virginia records are very fortunate, as few of the records dealing with Virginia citizens have been lost due to fire or other catastrophes. The majority of the records in the courthouses of all the 99 Virginia counties are virtually intact.

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The Petition of the undersigned citizens of Russell County, respectfully represents that you petitioners labour under great disadvantages and inconvenience in relation to the exercise of the right of Suffrate; that they or most of them live a considerable distance from any place of holding an election; in fact many of them live between thirty and forty miles from any place where an election is held, and cannot exercise rights conferred on them by the Constitution of our State from the facts as above stated, and from others that might be given. The Prayer of your petitioners is that at the Home of William Robertson Esq. at a place called the Pound Fork of Sandy River in the County of Russell and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray, etc.

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Dan Burrows provides a list of old occupation names and their meanings. This list of terms is helpful for understanding old books and wills.

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Genealogy Symbols

• * born
• (*) born illegitimate
• 0         betrothed
• 00 married
• 0-0 Common Law Marriage
• x  baptized or christened
• 0/0  Divorced
• +    died
• x    died
• buried
• buried
• (-) No further Issue
• ++ No further Issue

Abbreviated Words From Latin

Meaning of Letters

Latin

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