Simpson Library: Genealogy: Websites and Databases

Local Genealogy Websites

Websites for genealogy in Virginia or the Fredericksburg area.

Fredericksburg Research Resources
Digitized primary documents from Fredericksburg history, provided by the UMW Department of Historic Preservation. Contents include:
- Fredericksburg city directories
- Lists of local inhabitants, taken from census data
- Merchant license lists
- Tax records
- Indexes to legal transferals of property (e.g. deeds, trusts, wills)
- Indexes to Fredericksburg newspapers
- Indexes to insurance policies
The Heritage Center, a.k.a the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center
A non-profit archive of historic documents from Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George. The center's collections are searchable online.
City of Fredericksburg, VA Genealogy
A collection of links to genealogical resources for the Fredericksburg area. Part of the USGenWeb Project and the VAGenWeb Project.
Find A Grave -- Fredericksburg
The website Find a Grave has cemetery records for cemeteries all over the world. Here are its records for cemeteries in the city of Fredericksburg.
Historic Court Records
A searchable collection of extracts from Fredericksburg-area court records, covering the late 18th century through the early 20th century. Includes marriage records, slave records, wills, and more. Provided by the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, the City of Fredericksburg, and the Library of Virginia.
Genealogical Records at the Library of Virginia
If you’re considering a visit to the Library of Virginia to conduct genealogical research, read this PDF pamphlet to see what information is available.
Mutual Assurance Society Policies 1796-1865
A free database of insurance policies issued by the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia, maintained by the UMW Department of Historic Preservation. The original documents are not viewable online, but are available on microfilm in Simpson Library.
Virginia Tombstone Transcription Project
Transcriptions of tombstones in cemeteries throughout Virginia, including several cemeteries in the Fredericksburg area. Part of the USGenWeb Project's Tombstone Transcription Project.

Other Genealogy Websites

Websites of national or global scope.

AfriGeneas
Genealogy resources for people of African descent, especially African Americans. Includes databases, message boards, and links to similar sites.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Information about Civil War soldiers and sailors, both Union and Confederate. Also includes regimental histories, battle histories, prison records, and cemetery records. Provided by the National Park Service.
Cyndi's List
An award-winning list of genealogy websites. Contains thousands of links, with more added every day.
FamilySearch
Free access to the largest collection of genealogical data in the world. Provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Find A Grave
A searchable collection of cemetery records from all over the world.
Free UK Genealogy
Genealogical records from the United Kingdom, including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and parish records.
Nationwide Gravesite Locator
A searchable database of gravesites of U.S. military personnel. Provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
RootsWeb
A community of genealogists sharing information with each other. Provided by Ancestry.com. Many pages from the USGenWeb Project (see below) are hosted on this site.
Social Security Death Index
An index compiled from the Social Security Department's Death Master Index. Covers more than 90 million individuals who died from the early 1960s to date. The SSDI is available on several different websites, including Ancestry.com and GenealogyBank.com.
U.S. Freedman's Bureau Records
A collection of digitized documents from 1865-1878 from the U.S. Freedman's Bureau, which provide genealogical evidence about African Americans in the years after emancipation. Provided for free by Ancestry. To view records, users must create a (free) Ancestry account, or use UMW's account.
The USGenWeb Project
Free genealogical information organized geographically (by state and county) and by topic.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration: Resources for Genalogists and Family Historians
A guide to NARA's genealogical resources. Includes tutorials and topic guides.

UMW Databases

UMW pays for subscriptions to these databases. You can access the databases by using the public computers in Simpson Library. You can also access the databases from your own computer, if you have a UMW username and password.

Ancestry Library Edition This link opens in a new window
One of the largest online family history resources available, Ancestry.com provides unprecedented access to family history via documents that record the lineage of individuals from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more.
Accessible Archives This link opens in a new window
An electronic database of full text articles from American newspapers and magazines published between the mid-18th century and the early 20th century. Includes a collection of African American newspapers.
American Periodicals Series Online This link opens in a new window
American periodicals published between the mid-18th century and the early 20th century
Biography and Genealogy Master Index This link opens in a new window
BGMI is an electronic index to print reference books. Do you have a famous ancestor? Type that person's name into this index to get a list of books that include articles about your ancestor.
Early American Newspapers Series 2 and Series 6 This link opens in a new window
This database includes access to the following collections of Early American Newspapers: Series 2, The New Republic (1758-1900); and Series 6, Compromise and Disunion (1741-1922).

Peter Catlin

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Subjects: Art and Art History, Historic Preservation, History and American Studies, Music