The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the completion of the
Legislative Petitions Database. Over 25,000 petitions were entered into
the database between 2001 and 2007 and are available to search through
the Library of Virginia's website at
http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/gov/petitions/. Petitions to the
General Assembly were the primary catalyst for legislation in the
Commonwealth from 1776 until 1865. Public improvements, military claims,
divorce, manumission of slaves, division of counties, incorporation of
towns, religious freedom, and taxation were just some of the concerns
expressed in these petitions. The petitions often contain hundreds of
signatures and are a useful tool in genealogical research. Frequently,
the petitions contain supplementary support documents useful in
research, including maps, wills, naturalizations, deeds, resolutions,
affidavits, judgments, and other items.
The database lists the name of the primary petitioner(s), locality, date
of presentation, description, reel number, box number, and folder
number. In addition, each petition has been assigned one or more topics
for indexing purposes. The petitions have been assigned with the
following topics: Agriculture/Livestock/Farming; Appropriations/Salary
Increases; Banks & Banking; Bridges; Canals; Charters/Incorporations;
Churches/Religious Issues; Citizenship/Naturalizations; Commerce;
Constitutional Conventions; Courts/Judicial System; Division of
County/New County; Divorce; Elections; Ferries/Packets; Fishing/Oyster
Industry; Free Negroes; Indians; Land/Real Estate;
Manufacturers/Manufacturing Companies; Militia/Public Guard;
Mining/Mining Companies; Miscellaneous; Name Changes;
Navigation/Navigation Companies; Organizations; Paper Money;
Pardons/Release from Fines, Judgments, etc; Private Relief/Compensation;
Prohibition/Temperance; Railroads/Railroad Companies; Revenue/Taxation;
Roads/Turnpike Companies; Schools/Universities; Slaves/Slavery; Tobacco
Inspection/Industry; Towns; War Claims/Pensions; and
Wills/Administrations.
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