(Hanover County) Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, 1706-1786.

Here is a book that any researcher MUST have if he or she is researching in this BURNED county. Hanover County was created in 1721 from New Kent County and in turn the western portion of Hanover County was carved off to give way to Louisa County in 1742.
When the parishes were formed by the General Assembly of Virginia, the Vestries were assigned some of the civil administrative functions and 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 among other things are things like: 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 and shelter for the poor and elderly; burial of the dead and many, many other similar duties.