Southampton County Historical Society

03/30/2026

Southampton County Historical Society Lecture - April 19 - see info below. Free, interesting and open to the public!

03/25/2026

SAVE THE DATE!! HERITAGE DAY
SATURDAY, MAY 9 - GONNA BE FUN!

01/06/2026

NAT TURNER BUS TOUR – following Nat Turner’s route

DATE: February 21, 2026

COST: $80 each, which includes bus, handout of material and lunch. I hope you will tip the driver.
Ten Dollars from every seat sold will go to the ‘Food Bank’ in Franklin.

LOCATION & TIME: Bus departs from the parking lot at the Southampton Courthouse located at 22350 Main Street, Courtland, VA 23837, promptly at 10:00 a.m.
Please arrive before 9:40am. Parking is available in the Courthouse parking lot.

LUNCH: Lunch is provided by the Ladies Auxiliary of Bryant's Baptist Church, around 1:00 +.
Bring a small snack if you need something more for blood sugar.

PAYMENT: Check or money order, payable to Rick Francis, mailed to P.O. Box 212, Courtland VA 23837. Please provide your email for confirmation and cell number for last-minute updates.

COVID-rules: We may be done with Covid, but I don’t think it is done with us … we are in tight quarters on the bus. Riders must bring a mask, in case the Church where we will have lunch, requires it. I strongly recommend you wear your mask while on the bus. I’ll update my Covid prior to the tour.

BUS: We will be riding with Vision Tours of Franklin. The bus has a bathroom in the rear. Seats are neither reserved nor assigned, other than the four front seats next to exit "well" are for my wife (co-host) guests and materials. Animals are not allowed on the bus.

OTHER: Spots are reserved on a first come-first served basis upon when payment received. Expect your check to be negotiated about 10 days before the tour to have the funds to pay the bus owner and church. There is practically no walking involved, other than getting on & off bus for tour and lunch.

DURATION: We normally conclude the tour around 3 to 3:30pm, depending on the conversation.

QUESTIONS: Contact Rick Francis at: [email protected]

Rick Francis is the Clerk of Southampton Circuit Court - thus the custodian of the records of the County. He is a direct descendant of one of the families caught up in the Insurrection and has led more than 40 tours on the topic.

Send a message to learn more

01/02/2026

GENEALOGY CLASS - JANUARY 10TH

Discover Your Roots: Genealogy Class with Bruce Saunders
Are you curious about your family history or interested in tracing the stories of local families and places? Genealogist Bruce Saunders will be leading a comprehensive genealogy class designed for anyone eager to learn more about researching their own families, local communities, or the ancestry of others.
Event Details
• Date: Saturday, January 10th
• Location: Record Room, Courthouse in Courtland
Class Schedule
• Beginner’s Class: Doors open at 8:45 AM
• Advanced Class: Doors open at 12:45 PM
• Note: Doors will open at the times listed above and will close 10 minutes later. Attendees arriving after doors close will not be admitted.
Registration and Cost
This event is free of charge. However, due to limited space—only 28 attendees are permitted—you must pre-register in advance to secure your spot.
• To register, contact Bruce Saunders:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 757-647-4403
Additional Information
• Attendees are welcome to bring food; however, no food is allowed inside the Record Room. For those participating in both sessions, a refrigerator and a designated area for lunch will be provided.
• Beverages are permitted in the Record Room, but containers must have secure tops and beverages may only be consumed at your table.
• Electronics, such as laptops, are allowed during the event.
• Seating in the Record Room is limited, but there is some standing space available for researchers waiting for the afternoon session.
About the Event
The Southampton County Historical Society is excited to help spread the word about this opportunity for community members to learn about genealogy and local history. Join Bruce Saunders for a day dedicated to discovering and preserving the stories that connect us all.

Send a message to learn more

10/20/2025

Our next program - November 16 - come hear interesting history on the Albemarle Steam Navigation Company. Free and open to the public. Come!!

10/02/2025

09/25/2025

Southampton Agriculture Museum/Heritage Village voted Best Tourist spot for 2025. Come join us!

09/04/2025

You will LOVE coming to the Southampton Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Courtland, VA, this weekend to watch the model trains run.

08/15/2025

Tour the Southampton County Courthouse. Learn how to research your family history. Free and open to the public. Come join us!

05/05/2025

Here's the planned schedule for Heritage Day this Saturday at the Ag & Forestry Museum in Courtland. Come join the fun - calling for a beautiful day!!

03/31/2025

The former Museum of Southampton County History has been demolished! Thank you, Matt Crowder! Photos by JP Henry
It was determined it was not cost-effective to upgrade this building for our new Museum of Southampton County History. So down with the old to make way for the new. Hope to see progress on the new building in the next few months.