The Vestry Book of St. Peter's Parish, [New Kent County], Virginia, 1682-1758

Considering the fact that New Kent County, Virginia is a BURNED county prior to 1865, makes this book one of only a few sources of information about this county during this colonial period. This BURNED county was formed from York County in 1654 and is the parent county of Hanover, King William and King and Queen Counties. When the parishes were formed by the General Assembly of Virginia, the Vestries were assigned some of the civil administrative functions all such civil functions were official in nature and the records of actions taken were recorded in the vestry books. Such records contained in the Vestry Book contained among other things such as: upkeep of bastard children; payment for the upkeep of the ferry; prosecution of fornicators; appointment of road work crews; apprentice young people to others in the parish for training in crafts or other livelihoods; providing clothing, food, shelter for the poor and elderly; burial of the dead and many, many other similar duties.

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia

(1905), 2006, paper, 242 pp.

ISBN: 9780893087388

117-VA66