Updated November 25, 2022
Overview:
Parish Registers and Vestries contain much information vital to the genealogist. Laws requiring the recording of births and deaths in Virginia were enacted as early as 1632, when a law directed ministers or churchwardens in each parish to present a "register of all burialls, christenings, and marriages" yearly at the June meeting of the court. A similar act passed in 1659 stated that "enquiries are often made for persons imported into the collonie, of whose death no positive certificate can be granted for want of registers." Few records survive from these early decades.
In 1713 the General Assembly noted that earlier acts had "for a long time been disused" and once again directed the recording of births and deaths by the minister or clerk of each parish. A return made the same year noted that the list of births and deaths was not complete since many parishes failed to make returns "for tis a thing so new to the people that neither they care to Register their Births and Burials, nor are the Parish Clerks yet brought into a regular method of transmitting them."
The recording of vital statistics continued to be an ecclesiastical function throughout the colonial period. With the disestablishment of the Anglican church after the American Revolution and the rise of other religious denominations, the record-keeping process for vital statistics fell more and more to the individual family. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, medical science began to recognize the advantages of accurate birth and mortality information in controlling and treating communicable diseases. Pressure from local and national health organizations and medical professionals resulted in the passage of vital statistics registration laws. Virginia was one of the earliest states to pass such a law.
In addition to birth and death records, parish records also contain processioning and other useful information from which relationships can be gleaned.
| Parish | Counties |
| Abingdon Parish | Gloucester County, about 1653 |
| Accomack Parish | Accomack County, 1634-1643 |
| Accomack Parish | Accomack County, 1663 |
| Albemarle Parish | Surry County; 1738-1753 Sussex County, 1753 |
| Amherst Parish | Amherst County, 1761 |
| Antrim Parish | Halifax County, 1752 |
| Appomattox Parish | After 1653-1664 Westmoreland County |
| Argall's Gift Parish | James City County, 1618-before 1640 (called Chickahominy by 1640) |
| Augusta Parish | Augusta County, 1738 |
| Bath Parish | Prince George County, 1742-1752; Dinwiddie County, 1752 |
| Beckford Parish | Frederick County, 1769-1772; Dunmore County, 1772-1778; Shenandoah County, 1778 |
| Berkeley Parish | Spotsylvania County, 1769 |
| Blisland Parish | James City County, about 1653; York County, about 1653-1654; New Kent County, 1654 |
| Blount Point Parish | Warwick County, before 1634-? |
| Botetourt Parish | Botetourt County, 1769 |
| Boutracy Parish | Northumberland County, before 1679-before 1716 |
| Bristol Parish | Charles City County, 1643-1702; Henrico County, 1643-1735; Prince George County, 1702-; Dinwiddie County, 1752 |
| Bromfield Parish | Culpeper County, 1752 |
| Brunswick Parish | King George County, 1732; Stafford County, 1776 |
| Bruton Parish | James City County, by 1674; York County by 1674 |
| Camden Parish | Pittsylvania County, 1766; Henry County, 1776-1778 |
| Cameron Parish | Fairfax County, 1748-1763; Loudoun County, 1757 |
| Charles City Parish | Charles City County, 1613-? |
| Charles Parish | York County, about 1692 |
| Charles River Parish | About 1634-1642 (name changed to York Parish by 1642) York County, about 1634-1642 |
| Chickacoan Parish | Before 1640-1643 (later Wallingford Parish) Charles City County, before 1640-1643; James City County, Before 1640-1643 |
| Chippokes Parish | James City County, 1643-1647 |
| Chiskiack Parish | (Name changed to Hampton Parish) York County, 1640-1643 |
| Chotank Parish | Stafford County, about 1680-before 1702 |
| Christ Church Parish | Lancaster County, 1666-about 1669; Middlesex County, about 1669 Christ Church Parish (also referred to as Great Christ Church Parish); Lancaster County, about 1670 |
| Chuckatuck Parish | Nansemond County, after 1643-1737 |
| Cople Parish | Westmoreland County, about 1664 |
| Cornwall Parish | Lunenburg County, 1757-1764; Charlotte County, 1764 |
| Cumberland Parish | Lunenburg County, 1745; Bedford County, 1753-1756 |
| Dale Parish | Henrico County, 1734-1749; Chesterfield County, 1749 |
| Denbigh Parish | Warwick County, about 1635-about 1730 |
| Dettingen Parish | Prince William County, 1744 |
| Drysdale Parish | King and Queen County, 1723; Caroline County, 1728 |
| East Parish | Upper Norfolk County, 1643-1646; Nansemond County, 1646-1744 |
| Elizabeth City Parish | Kecoughtann Parish; Elizabeth City County, 1619; Warwick County, 1619 |
| Elizabeth River Parish | New Norfolk County, 1636-1637; Upper Norfolk County, before 1643-1643; Lower Norfolk County, before 1643-1691; Norfolk County, 1691 |
| Fairfax Parish | Fairfax County, 1764 |
| Fairfield Parish | Northumberland County, 1664-before 1699 |
| Farnham Parish | Old Rappahannock County, about 1656-before 1683 |
| Flowerdew Hundred Parish | (See Jordan's Journey Parish) |
| Fluvanna Parish | Fluvanna County, 1777 |
| Frederick Parish | Frederick County, 1738 |
| Fredericksville Parish | Louisa County, 1742; Albemarle County, 1744 |
| Great Christ Church Parish | (See Christ Church Parish, Lancaster) |
| Hamilton Parish | Stafford County, 1730-about 1731; Prince William County, 1730-1769; Fauquier County, 1759 |
| Hampton Parish | York County, 1643-1707 |
| Hanover Parish | Richmond County, 1713-1720; King George County, 1720 |
| Harrop Parish | James City County, 1645-1658 |
| Henrico Parish | (Varina used interchangeably, about 1680-1714) Henrico County, about 1611 |
| Hog Island Parish | James City County, about 1624-? |
| Hungars Parish | Northampton County, 1691 |
| James City Parish | James City County, 1607 |
| Jordan's Journey Parish (or Flowerdew Hundred Parish) | Charles City County, about 1620s-1688 |
| Kecoughtan Parish | (Name changed to Elizabeth City Parish) Elizabeth City County, about 1610-1619 |
| Kingston Parish | Gloucester County, about 1652 |
| King William Parish | Henrico County, 1700-1749; Goochland County, 1728-1749; Cumberland County, 1749-1777; Chesterfield County, 1749; Powhatan County, 1777 |
| Lancaster Parish | Lancaster County, 1651-1654, 1657-1666 |
| Lawnes Creek Parish | James City County, 1640-1652; Surry County, 1652-1738 |
| Lee Parish | (Wicomico Parish called Lee Parish for a short time) Northumberland County, 1664-before 1680 |
| Leeds Parish | Fauquier County, 1769; Prince William County, 1769 |
| Lexington Parish | Amherst County, 1778 |
| Littleton Parish | Cumberland County, 1772 |
| Lower Parish | Northampton County, 1643-1734 |
| Lower Parish | (See also Newport Parish; Isle of Wight County, 1643-1734) |
| Lower Parish | Upper Norfolk County, after 1643-1646; Nansemond County, 1646-1737 |
| Lower Parish | Lancaster County, 1654-1656 |
| Lower Parish | Stafford County, about 1664-about 1680 |
| Lower Parish | Nansemond County, 1744 |
| Lower Parish of Elizabeth City County | Elizabeth City County, before 1632-1636 |
| Lower Suffolk Parish | Nansemond County, after 1744 |
| Lunenburg Parish | Richmond County, 1732 |
| Lynnhaven Parish | Lower Norfolk County, 1643-1691; Princess Anne County, 1691 |
| Machodick Parish | Westmoreland County, after 1653-1664 |
| Manchester Parish | Chesterfield County, 1772 |
| Marston Parish | York County, 1654-1674 |
| Martin's Brandon Parish | Charles City County, 1655-1702; Prince George County, 1702 |
| Martin's Hundred Parish | James City County, 1622-1712 |
| Meherrin Parish | Brunswick County, 1753; Greensville County, 1780 |
| Middle Plantation Parish | James City County, 1633-1658; York County, 1634-1658 |
| Middletowne Parish | James City County, 1658-1674; York County, 1658-1674 |
| Montgomery Parish | Montgomery County, 1776 |
| Mulberry Island Parish | Warwick County, about 1635-about 1730 |
| New Poquoson Parish | York County, about 1635-1692 |
| Newport Parish | Name is use before 1734; Isle of Wight County, before 1734 |
| Nomini Parish | Northumberland County, before 1653-1653; Westmoreland County 1653-by 1660 |
| Norborne Parish | Frederick County, 1769-1772 |
| Northampton Parish | Northampton County, about 1643-1663 |
| North Farnham Parish | Old Rappahannock County, about 1683-1692; Richmond County, 1692 |
| Nottoway Parish | Isle of Wight county, 1734-1749; Southampton County, 1749 |
| Nottoway Parish | Amelia County, 1748; Prince Edward County, 1753-1755 |
| Nutmeg Quarter Parish | Elizabeth City County, 1630s; Warwick County, 1630s-1657 |
| Occohannock Parish | Northampton County, 1652-1663 |
| Overwharton Parish | Stafford County, about 1702; King George County, 1776 |
| Patrick Parish | Henry County, 1778; Franklin County, 1785 |
| Petsworth Parish | Gloucester County, about 1652 |
| Piankatank Parish | Lancaster County, 1657-1666 |
| Piscataway Parish | (Mentioned in a Deed of 1681) Old Rappahannock County, about 1681 |
| Poropotank Parish | Lancaster County, before 1661-1666 |
| Portsmouth Parish | Norfolk County, 1761 |
| Potomac Parish | Westmoreland County, about 1653-1664; Stafford County, 1664-before 1680 |
| Raleigh Parish | Amelia County, 1734 |
| Richmond Parish | Richmond County, 1691-at least 1693 |
| Rockbridge Parish | Rockbridge County, 1777 |
| Rockingham Parish | Rockingham County, 1777 |
| Russell Parish | Bedford County, 1754; Campbell County, 1781; Franklin County, 1785 |
| Saint Andrew's Parish | Brunswick County, 1720; Greensville County, 1781 |
| Saint Anne's Parish | Essex County, 1704; Caroline County, 1728 |
| Saint Anne's Parish | Albemarle County, 1744 |
| Saint Asaph's Parish | Caroline County, 1779 |
| Saint Brides Parish | Norfolk County, 1761 |
| Saint David's Parish | King William County, 1744 |
| Saint George's Parish | Essex County, 1714-1720; Spotsylvania County, 1720 |
| Saint George's Parish | Accomack County, 1762 |
| Saint James Northam Parish | Goochland County, 1744 |
| Saint James Southam Parish | Goochland County, 1744-1749; Cumberland County, 1749-1777; Powhatan County, 1777 |
| Saint James’ Parish | Henrico County, 1720-1728; Goochland County, 1728-1744 |
| Saint James’ Parish | Lunenburg County, 1761-1764; Mecklenburg County, 1764 |
| Saint John's Parish | New Kent County, 1680-1691; King and Queen County, 1691-1701; King William County, 1701 |
| Saint Luke's Parish | Southampton County, 1762 |
| Saint Margaret's Parish | King William County, 1720-1744; Caroline County, 1728 |
| Saint Mark's Parish | Spotsylvania County, 1730-1734; Orange County, 1734-1752; Culpeper County, 1748 |
| Saint Martin's Parish | Hanover County, 1726; Louisa County, 1742 |
| Saint Mary's Parish | Old Rappahannock County, about 1677-1692; Richmond County, 1692-1713; Essex County, 1692-1713; Caroline County, 1728 |
| Saint Mary's Whitechapel Parish | Lancaster County, before 1669-1752 |
| Saint Patrick's Parish | Prince Edward County, 1755 |
| Saint Paul's Parish | Stafford County, before 1702-1720; King George County, 1776 |
| Saint Paul's Parish | New Kent County, 1704-1720; Hanover County, 1720 |
| Saint Peter's Parish | James City County, 1679-1767; New Kent County, 1679 |
| Saint Stephen's Parish | New Kent County, before 1674-1691; King and Queen County, 1691 |
| Saint Stephen's Parish | Northumberland County, about 1698 |
| Saint Thomas Parish | Orange County, 1740 |
| Shelburne Parish | Loudoun County, 1769 |
| Sittenburne Parish | Old Rappahannock County, before 1664-1692; Essex County, 1692-1704; Richmond County, 1692-1732; King George County, 1720-1732 |
| Smith's Hundred Parish | Charles City County, about 1617-about 1619 |
| South Parish | Upper Norfolk County, 1643-1646; Nansemond County 1646-1744 |
| Southampton Parish | Charles City County, 1619-1622 |
| South Farnham Parish | Old Rappahannock County, about 1683-1692; Essex County, 1692 |
| Southwark Parish | James City County, 1647-1652; Surry County, 1652 |
| Stafford Parish | Stafford County, about 1680-before 1702 |
| Santley Hundred Parish | Elizabeth City County, about 1628-about 1635; Warwick County, about 1628-about 1635 |
| Stratton Major Parish | New Kent County, 1655-1691; King and Queen County, 1691 |
| Suffolk Parish | Nansemond County, 1737 |
| Tillotson Parish | Albemarle County, 1757-1761; Buckingham County, 1761 |
| Trinity Parish | (Parish name used but parish not officially established) Lancaster County, about 1670-about 1724 |
| Trinity Parish | Louisa County, 1761 |
| Truro Parish | Prince William County, 1732-1742; Fairfax County, 1742 |
| Upper Parish | Northampton County, 1643-1734 |
| Upper Parish | Isle of Wight county, 1643-1734 |
| Upper Parish | Upper Norfolk County, after 1643-1646; Nansemond County, 1646-after 1744 |
| Upper Parish | Lancaster County, 1654-1656 |
| Upper Parish | Stafford County, about 1664-before 1680 |
| Upper Parish of Elizabeth City County | Elizabeth City County, before 1632-about 1636 |
| Upper Suffolk Parish | Nansemond County, after 1744 |
| Varina Parish | (See Henrico Parish) |
| Wallingford Parish | (First called Chickahominy Parish) Charles City County, 1643-1720; James City County, 1643-1720 |
| Ware Parish | Gloucester County, about 1652 |
| Warrosquyoake Parish | Warrosquyoake County, before 1629-1637; Isle of Wight County, 1637-1734 |
| Warwick Parish | Warwick County, about 1725 |
| Washington Parish | Westmoreland County, 1664 |
| Washington Parish | Washington County, 1776 |
| Waters Creek Parish | Elizabeth City County, 1629-1634; Warwick County, 1629-about 1643 |
| West Parish | Upper Norfolk County, 1643-1646; Nansemond County, 1646-before 1737 |
| West and Shirley Parish | Charles City County, about 1613-1622 |
| Westbury Parish | Westmoreland County, 1664-about 1680 |
| Westover Parish | Charles City County, by 1625-1702; Prince George County, 1702-1720 |
| Weyanoke Parish | Charles City County, about 1618-1702; Prince George County, 1702-1720 |
| Wicomico Parish | (see also Lee Parish) Northumberland County, about 1648 |
| Wilmington Parish | Charles City County, about 1658-1723; James City County, about 1658-1723 |
| York Parish | York County, about 1638-1707 |
| Yorkhampton Parish | York County, 1707; James City County, 1712 |
Sources
- Library of Virginia. Using Vital Statistics Records in the Archives at the Library of Virginia, (Research Notes Number 2)
- Salmon, Emily J. and Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr. The Hornbook of Virginia History, 4th edition, Library of Virginia, Richmond, 1994.