GEOGRAPHY LESSON 1
Virginia Counties

There are many records of Woodcocks in colonial Virginia.  The earliest document I have is from the Records of the High Court of Admiralty dated August 18, 1635. It concerns the testimony of a Nicholas Woodcock.

The first records of our ancestors is from Chesterfield County in Virginia (yellow) where most of Henry and Eleanor's children were born.  Chesterfield was one of the eight original Shires which was originally formed from Henrico. Other Woodcocks are found in the adjoining counties of Henrico to the west, Culpepper County, Elizabeth City County, Henry County and Frederick County, but no connections have been made.


Virginia Counties in 1634


Virginia Counties in 1720


Virginia Counties in 1738


Virginia Counties in 1770

Henry and Eleanor along with their children, Thomas, Robert, Sarah, Mark, John and William moved west to Bedford County Virginia (blue) sometime before November 1783

VA Counties 1792
Virginia Counties in 1792

Franklin County Virginia (green) was formed in 1786 from Bedford and Henry counties. The changing county boundaries can cause confusion when comparing real estate transactions.  Records from Franklin County may be referring to land that was part of Bedford County a few years ago.

Staunton Cemetery, Virginia

There are several references to the purchase and sale of land on the Staunton River in Bedford County Virginia.  This map  probably gives a good indication of where our ancestors lived in Bedford County.  I doubt the lake existed in the late 18th century.

It would be interesting to see who is buried in the Staunton Cemetery if it existed at the time.

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