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After an illuminating account of the history of Patrick and Henry counties, which occupies the first third of the book, the authors turn their attention to genealogy, providing authoritative histories of no fewer than 110 families. The genealogies generally begin with the first settler in either Patrick or Henry County and proceed to enumerate descendants in several generations, providing incidental detail according to the materials available. In addition to the remarkable collection of genealogies, the book also contains transcriptions of important genealogical source materials, such as the Patrick and Henry land grants and patents registered in the old Land Office in Richmond.
Although substantially a collection of family histories, Hill's "History of Henry County, Virginia" observes virtually all the conventions of the standard county history. Chapters are devoted to Henry County in the Revolution and the Civil War, to churches, towns, courts, and schools, and to an appreciation of Henry County's role in the material and spiritual development of the state and nation. Valuable appendices feature sections on abstracts of Henry County legislative petitions, lists of Henry County citizens who took the Oath of Allegiance, and marriage license bonds from 1776 to 1800. The bulk of this instructive work consists largely of biography and family history. A not inconsiderable number of family histories, treating mostly old or prominent Henry County families, bear direct relation to the biographies. Not surprisingly, the family history section touches on many thousands of individuals and occupies itself with the legitimate concerns of genealogy, i.e. the recital of names and the dates of births, marriages, and deaths in successive generations.
Mrs. Dodd has compiled all the marriage records of Henry County from its formation in 1778 until just prior to the keeping of vital records in Virginia. Most of the entries are based upon marriage bonds, which are arranged alphabetically by the husband's surname. Brides are indexed in a separate alphabetical sequence.
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