Pittsylvania Co., VA

History

The county was formed in 1767 from Halifax County. It was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies.

In 1777 the western part of Pittsylvania County became Patrick Henry County.

Maud Clement's History of Pittsylvania County notes the following: "Despite the settlers' intentions, towns failed to develop for two reasons: the generally low level of economic activity in the area and the competition from plantation settlements already providing the kind of marketing and purchasing services typically offered by a town. Plantation settlements along the rivers, particularly at ferrying points, became commercial centers.

Modern Day Adjacent Counties

Pittsylvania County is bordered by Bedford , Campbell, Halifax, Henry, and Franklin Counties in addtion to the Independent City of Danville and North Carolina counties Caswell and Rockingham.

Gleanings From

• Pittsylvania Co., VA - Court Records
  • 1811 Chancery Case - Barksdale et al vs Carter Ball et al
• Pittsylvania Co., VA - Deed Records
  • 1769 Deed - George & Agness Steagell to Fredrick Reaves
  • 1770 Deed - Lewis Jinkins to Frederick Reaves
  • 1770 Deed - Fredrick Rives to William Dyson
  • 1770 Deed - Fredrick Rives to Ralph Grisham
  • 1770 Deed - Fredrick Rives to David Kirby
  • 1772 Deed - Fredrick Reeves to Samuel Canterbury
• Pittsylvania Co., VA - Reeves Chronology
• Pittsylvania Co., VA - Tax Lists
  • 1800 Personal Tax Lists - Pittsylvania Co., VA
    • Daniel Reeves
    • Reeves-Higginbotham & Company
• US Federal Census - Pittsylvania Co., VA
  • Pittsylvania Co., VA - 1820 Census
    • Benjamin Reaves