Campbell County Probate Records

Campbell County was first settled in the early 1730s by Scotch-Irish families. It was named after Revolutionary War hero, General William Campbell who became famous at the Battle of Kings Mountain when he defeated the Tories and Loyalists. In 1757, John Lynch, son of one of the first Quaker families, operated a ferry service which crossed the James River and ultimately helped to populate the present city of Lynchburg. Meanwhile, his brother, Charles Lynch, developed Green Level (now Avoca) located in present day Altavista. Lynchburg was officially created from Campbell County land in 1786 when fifty acres of land was donated by Jeremiah Rust; thus, Rustburg became the county seat. Brookneal, a busy intersection of trails on the Staunton River, was founded in 1802. Patrick Henry himself removed to Campbell County after having served five terms as Governor of Virginia and developed his Red Hill Plantation. When Henry died on June 6, 1799, he was buried at Red Hill and today the plantation is a public shrine to his memory.