The area the Central Virginia Genealogical Association studies is the area included in Old Albemarle County, from its creation from Goochland County in 1744 until it was divided into multiple other counties in 1761. That area now includes: Albemarle, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Page, Rockbridge, Rockingham, and Shenandoah.
For a list of surnames of interest to CVGA members, go to Surnames Researched by CVGA Members.
For research web sites on this area, refer to our Central Virginia Resources spreadsheet.
Since its inception, CVGA has established a library of genealogical and historical works, periodicals, pamphlets, and manuscripts. This collection is housed in the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society Library.
At the request of genealogist Diane Keeton, we have mounted her genealogical files on our website. These files are freely available to readers. A list of the various families in the files: Keeton File Index
There are three components to the files.
- ancestorsofjunedianespencermartinkeeto Click on the Index at the bottom of the list of files, and it will take you to the Table of Contents
- Keeton-family-reports The “family-reports” are more complete than the information in the ancestorsofjunedianespencermartinkeeto files.
- Keeton-photos These are photo files, but the individual photographs are not identified.
A benefit of membership is access to the 1983-2022 archives of the Central Virginia Heritage, the newsletter of CVGA. To join, go to the CVGA Membership Form on the home page of this website. To purchase copies of the individual issues of CVH on Amazon.com, go to Purchase Publications.
While CVGA does not conduct research for others, we may be able to find persons who will perform this service. In addition, various libraries in the area maintain lists of independent researchers who may be willing to do research for a fee. No endorsement of individual researchers is intended or implied.
Wish to contact someone regarding family research and assistance in locating geanological chart originally produced on Ancestary.com? Above is general question since I missed the engagement with Susan Emert at the JMRLNorthside Library. Thank you.
Sally, what sort of problem are you having finding this chart? Email me at the webmaster’s link in the footer.
I also missed that public library session on Ancestry.com and would love some help accessing the family tree info from my stepmother’s account. Any help is appreciated!
Hi — Contact me at the webmaster link below to discuss how to use Ancestry.com. — Jean, Webmaster
Christopher ” Christian ” Spears ; per KY DAR born 1755 VA and died and is buried in Harrison County Kentucky.
Our family has hit a brick wall with this my 3 great grandfather. Can anyone help?
I found your gentleman in the Simpson/Harp Family Tree on Ancestry.com. I e-mailed Vicki Stafford to see if she would share information with you. She is in VanBuren, Crawford County, Arkansas. Her profile says she is willing to help. You may hear from her soon.
Diane Inman
CVGA Board
I am a descendant of Matthew Harris who was married to Elizabeth Tate.
A Sam Towler wrote about the Benjamin Harris’s of “Mountain Gove” in your
publication around 2008 – 2009. Would you know exactly which publication
it was so I can purchase it. Thank you. Judi Anderson
Hello Judi,
These are the two issues with Sam Towler’s articles:
Fall 2008 (v. 25, no. 3) – Researching a Farm Pre- and Post-Civil War in Albemarle Using the Mathew Harris Farm as an Example
Winter 2009 (v. 25, no. 4) – Researching a Farm in Albemarle Pre- and Post-Civil War (Using the Matthew M. Harris Farm as an Example)
Patricia Lukas
CVGA Board
How soon after joining as a new member, can I log in and access past journals?
Hello — You should have received your membership id and password yesterday. Please let me know if you are having problems with it! — Jean Cooper, Editor
I’m trying to establish who Lee Roy (also shown as L.R. Or Leroy) Carwile’s mother is. Born 10/26/1858 and died in 1/3/1937. His father was Jacob Carwile, III. Birth certificate lists mother as Mary Williams, but family genealogy says her name is Sarah Jane Williams and the wrong name was listed. I’m new to genealogy and any help with directions would be appreciated! Maybe direct me to old obits?? Thanks!
Hello Teresa-
Where did the Carwile family live?
Campbell County, VA
I am hoping to obtain a marriage record from the early 1880s in regard to a couple which lived in James River, Buckingham County. Also to identify the burial location of the husband, presumably in that area. Can you recommend someone whom I might hire to obtain this information?
Both the Library of Virginia and the University of Virginia Library have lists of independent researchers.
https://www.library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/independent-researchers/
https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/ProResearchers.pdf
I am trying to find more information on my family tree for the “Young” family, i am getting stuck at george alexander & lucy anna young. What resources in the county could I use and how do I go about obtaining to research?
Hi, I am looking for research on my husbands family in Virginia. Specifically the Ballard family. Looking to see who are the parents of a Susan Ballard( 1825-1872) who married Noah S Brown in approx. Apr 12, 1837 in Botetourt County.
Other names of interest are Brown, Shiflett, Jarman, Maupin, Steffy, Zwecker
Any info is appreciated as we live on the west coast and getting to Virginia is difficult.
Thanks Carryl Murray
Hi — I’ve sent an answer to you to your private email. — Jean Cooper, Editor Central Virginia Heritage