DINWIDDIE COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Dinwiddie County, Virginia: A Genealogical Overview

Located in Southside Virginia, south of Richmond, Dinwiddie County is an area rich in Colonial and Civil War history. For genealogists, its past is defined by its origins as a key county south of the Appomattox River, its development as a tobacco and railroad corridor, and its position as the primary battleground during the nine-month Siege of Petersburg.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Dinwiddie County’s relationship with its parent county and the independent City of Petersburg is a critical piece of information for researchers tracing family lines in the region.

  • Year of Creation: 1752.
  • Parent County: It was formed entirely from Prince George County. Researchers seeking records that pre-date 1752 must consult the records of Prince George County.
  • Original Territory & Daughter Counties: Dinwiddie County has not had any daughter counties carved from its territory. The most significant territorial change was the growth of the town of Petersburg, which was located within Dinwiddie. In 1850, Petersburg was incorporated as an independent city, making it politically separate from the county.The City of Petersburg is the primary “daughter” entity. Its status as an independent city means that researchers with ancestors in the Petersburg area may need to consult records in both Dinwiddie County and the City of Petersburg, depending on the time period and exact location.
  • Boundary Changes: Aside from the land now part of the City of Petersburg, the county’s boundaries have remained largely stable since its formation.
  • Bordering Counties:
    • Chesterfield County (north)
    • Prince George County (east)
    • Sussex County (southeast)
    • Greensville County (south)
    • Brunswick County (southwest)
    • Nottoway County (west)
    • Amelia County (northwest)
    • City of Petersburg (north)

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Before European colonization, the area was the territory of the Appamattoc people, an Algonquian-speaking tribe that was part of the Powhatan Confederacy.
  • First Pioneers and Settlement: English settlement pushed south of the James and Appomattox Rivers throughout the early 18th century. The county was named for Robert Dinwiddie, the lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758. The economy was dominated by tobacco cultivation, which relied heavily on the labor of enslaved African Americans, and later by the transportation access provided by the growth of railroads centered in Petersburg.
  • Civil War Significance: Dinwiddie County was the epicenter of the Civil War from June 1864 to April 1865. The extended Siege of Petersburg, a massive campaign of trench warfare, was fought almost entirely within its borders. The county was the scene of numerous major engagements, including the Battle of the Crater (July 1864), and the climactic Battle of Five Forks (April 1, 1865). The Union victory at Five Forks severed the last Confederate supply line into Petersburg, forcing General Robert E. Lee to abandon the city and the capital of Richmond, which led directly to his surrender at Appomattox one week later.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides the practical information needed to locate ancestral records.

  • County Seat: Dinwiddie, Virginia (also referred to as Dinwiddie Court House). This has been the only county seat.
  • Record Loss & Preservation: Dinwiddie County is a treasure for genealogists, though it experienced some record loss. While some records were damaged or destroyed during the intense military activity of the Civil War, it is not considered a “burned county.” Many of its crucial 18th and 19th-century records, including will books, deed books, and court order books, survive, providing a rich resource for researchers.
  • Location of Records:
    • Dinwiddie County Courthouse: Located at 14008 Boydton Plank Rd, Dinwiddie, VA 23841. This is the central repository for the county’s historical records from its creation in 1752.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1853 (continuing until 1896, and resuming in 1912). The Dinwiddie County Clerk of Court holds these records, though recent inquiries are often directed to the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records in Richmond.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage bonds and licenses are available from 1752 onward and are held at the courthouse in Dinwiddie.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Appomattox Regional Library System: The library system serving the county, particularly the Dinwiddie branch, offers resources for local history and genealogy.
    • The Library of Virginia: Located in Richmond, this is the primary state archive and an essential resource for any Virginia researcher. It holds a vast collection of materials that supplement county records, including tax lists, land patents, and military records on microfilm.

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks