Library of Virginia Bible Collection

I received an e-mail from a reader that I wanted to pass along and comment on further:

"...You might mention to your readers that you don't have to be a Lee, Houston or Jefferson to have your family Bible on record at the Library of Virginia. They don't make it clear on their website, but they will be happy to photograph or photocopy an individuals family Bible record entries to include in their archives. These are then available for genealogical research. It also makes a safe back up in case of damage to the original. I recently went through this process with my Johnson Ivey ancestors' Bible dating back to 1799 in Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. Continued good luck with your project, Ed Miller"

Well, what Mr. Miller states is very true. The Library of Virginia does have a large collection of Bible copies for patrons to search. This collection can be found online and is totally free. I will put a link to it below.

If you want to submit a Bible, I think they prefer that you bring it in but you can probably submit copies through the mail. However, I think there are some authenticity and quality issues if you do not bring in the actual Bible.

If you take your Bible to the Library, you will probably have to leave it for a few days as there is always a backlog in the scanning department. I know that they will not accept donations of entire Bibles (meaning the actual, physical book), they just do not have the space. They will refer you to the Virginia Historical Society for such a donation.

If you go to the following website it should look like a search box for the archives and manuscript collection. The Library categorizes Bible records in this thread so search here for them. I would recommend that you search by last name, maybe county. Just searching the word Bible brings up too many, unrelated entries.

Check out the Library of Virginia Bible Collection Here!

New Site Launch - USA Family Tree

I launched a new site today. It isn't exactly new but it is "re"newed at least. The site is called USA Family Tree and features live genealogy auctions that are ending soon on eBay. I have found lots of great items on eBay and think it is a valuable tool for genealogists. You never know who might have found your great-grandmother's Bible at a yard sale in Petersburg and has since listed it for sale on eBay. I have bought many old family letters, papers, deeds and used envelopes on the auction site.

USA Family Tree is broken down into several categories, each focusing on a different part of our hobby - genealogy. They are as follows:

Births, Marriages, Deaths

Census Records

City, State Directories

Coat of Arms

County, State History

Family Trees

Immigration Lists

Maps

Military Records

Feel free to browse the site. It has a full search feature, with an advance search option. You should be able to enter your family name or maybe the county or state you are looking for and it will bring up all of the items it finds currently on eBay. (Be sure to check the "Search title and description" button to find all of the items available).

If you click on any of the items, it will take you to the main eBay site and the listing for that given item. You can then bid on the item like any other auction on eBay. If you are not a current eBay member, no problem. You can sign up for a free account and it only cost you money if you win an item - you obviously then have to pay for the item! Bidding is fast, easy and safe. I have personally sold and/or won over 700 items and have had few, if any, problems completing transactions.

If you go to an item that you to turn out not to be interested in, you can either use eBay's search feature to find additional items or simply press the back button until you get to USA Family Tree again. Happy bidding and do not forget to bookmark the site. The auctions are live so they change constantly. Check back often.

James Marvin Lett of Mecklenburg County, 1910-1978

Richmond Times-Dispatch, c. September-October 1978:
"LETT - James Marvin Lett, 67, of South Hill, died Friday, September 29, 1978 in a South Hill Hospital. He was a retired grocer. Mr. Lett is survived by his son, James Lett, San Antonio; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson, Richmond; five sisters, Mrs. Irma Hightower, Petersburg; Mrs. Hazel Wall, Mrs. Amy Williams and Mrs Delle Roberts all of South Hill and Mrs. Lenis Hall, LaCrosse, Va.; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted 2 PM, Sunday at, Farrar-Crowder Funeral Home, South Hill with interment in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Saturday 7 to 9 PM."

South Hill Enterprise, October 4, 1978:
"JAMES LETT - SOUTH HILL - James Marvin Lett, 67, of South Hill died Friday, Sept. 29, 1978, in Community Memorial Hospital, here. He was a retired grocer. He is survived by his son, James Lett of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson, of Richmond; five sisters, Mrs. Irma Hightower of Petersburg, Mrs. Hazel Wall, Mrs. Amy Williams and Mrs Delle Roberts, all of South Hill, and Mrs. Lenis Hall of La Crosse; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Farrar-Crowder Funeral Home, with burial in Oakwood Cemetery."

John Beddingfield NC Infantry Regiment Company E, Oakwood Cemetery???

Good afternoon and thank you for putting together the Oakwood Cemetery records project. I am pretty sure my 3-great uncle John Beddingfield would be buried there.

He died of disease at Chimborazo Hospital on August 2, 1862. He was in the NC Infantry Regiment Company E. Any info would be appreciated. I know you are busy and don’t expect you to drop what you are doing. I have been trying to locate all of my dead confederate relatives and I have been fortunate to find most of them. Hollywood, Gordonsville, Petersburg, Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, etc. Thank you and please let me know if there is any way I can help. I am living in Charlottesville and would be happy to volunteer some time to help!

Chuck Beddingfield

Alexander A. Gates of Petersburg, 1810-1887

Daily Index=Appeal, June 6, 1887:
"DIED. GATES - Friday, June 3rd, at 7:45 o'clock P. M., at his residence on Old street, ALEXANDER A. GATES, in the 78th year of his age. His funeral will take place from the High Street Methodist Church THIS (Sunday) MORNING, June 5th, at 11:30 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend."

Amy Lett Williams of South Hill, 1980

South Hill Enterprise, September 10, 1980:"AMY WILLIAMS - SOUTH HILL - Mrs. Amy Lett Williams, 65, of South Hill, died Tuesday, September 9, 1980. Mrs. Williams was a Security Receptionist for Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill. She is survived by her husband, Clyde A. Williams; a son, William A. (Billy) Williams of South Hill; four sisters, Mrs. Irma Hightower of Petersburg, Mrs. Hazel Wall and Mrs, Delle Roberts, both of South Hill, and Mrs. Lenis Hall of La Crosse. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Farrar-Crowder Funeral Home, with burial in Crestview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home."

Delle Lett Roberts of South Hill, 1983

South Hill Enterprise, November 23, 1983:"DELLE ROBERTS - SOUTH HILL - Mrs. Delle Lett Roberts, 63, of South Hill, died Saturday, Nov. 19, 1983, in a Richmond hospital. She is survived by her husband, John W. Roberts; a daughter, Mrs. Jo Anne Palmore of South Hill; a son, William S. Roberts of Richmond; three sisters, Mrs. Hazel Wall of South Hill, Mrs. Duckie Hall of La Crosse, and Mrs, Irma Hightower of Petersburg; and two grandchildren. She was a member of Brunswick Chapter No. 20 Order of the Eastern Star and was currently serving as Worthy Matron. She was also a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church at Meridithville. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Farrar-Crowder Funeral Home, with burial in Oakwood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Southside Rescue Squad, Inc. of South Hill."

Obituary for Susanna Wells Jarvis Gates, c. 1797 - April 09, 1887, of Petersburg, Virginia

Obituary for Susanna Wells Jarvis Gates, c. 1797 - April 09, 1887, of Petersburg, Virginia.

Daily Index=Appeal, April 12, 1887:"DIED. GATES - At her home on Old street, at 11:50 o'clock P. M. Saturday, 9th inst., SUSANNA J., wife of Alex. A. Gates, aged 90 years. Her funeral will take place from the High Street Methodist Church THIS (Tuesday) MORNING at 10 o'clock. Friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend."