Virginia
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Virginia
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Virginia. It supports research on the Commonwealth’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial period through statehood to the present.
- Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
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- Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the Commonwealth.
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Item type:Item, 9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 267-68 (1823)(1777)Applied to "all free male persons, hired servants [not indentured], and apprentices, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years." "The county lieutenant, colonels, lieutenant colonels, and major" had to appear "with a sword." Every captain and lieutenant needed a "firelock and bayonet, a cartouch box, a sword, and three charges of powder and ball." Ensigns needed a sword. Non-commissioned officers and privates had to have a rifle and tomahawk, or good fire-lock and bayonet, with a pouch and horn, or a cartouch or cartridge box, and with three charges of powder and ball; and, moreover, each of the said officers and soldiers shall constantly keep one pound of powder and four pounds of ball, to be produced whenever called for by his commanding officer.Item type:Item, 9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16, 28 (1823)(1775)Established militia age limits of 16 and 50. Every militiaman had to "furnish himself with a good rifle, if to be had, or otherwise with a tomahawk, common firelock, bayonet, pouch, or cartouch box, three charges of powder and ball, and appear with the same at the place appointed for mustering, and shall constantly keep by him one pound of powder and four pounds of ball."Item type:Item, 11 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 476-78 (1823)(1784)Increased its militia's minimum age to 18, and kept the maximum age at 50. Militiamen were required to appear "armed, equipped, and accoutred" according to rank. "The county lieutenants, lieutenant colonels commandant, and majors, with a sword; the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, with a sword and espontoon." Noncommissioned officers and privates needed to supply themselves "with a good clean musket, carrying an ounce ball, and three feet eight inches long in the barrel, with a good bayonet and iron ramrod well fitted thereto." Plus also "a cartridge box properly made, to contain and secure twenty cartridges" and "a good knapsack and canteen."Item type:Item, 9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281 (1823)(1777)Required "all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years" to "renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third" and swear to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as a free and independent state."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 13 (1823)(1684)"every trooper of the respective colonies of this country, shall furnish and supply himself with a good able horse, saddle, and all arms and furniture, fitt and compleat for a trooper, and that every foot soldier, shall furnish himselfe, with a sword, musquet and other furniture fitt for a soldier, and that each trooper and foot soldier, be provided with two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott, and shall continually keep their armes well fixt, cleane, and fitt for the king's service."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)(1705)The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age ... to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."Item type:Item, 7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 93-94 (1823)(1757)Restored the minimum militia age to 18 and set the maximum age at 60. Soldiers had to furnish themselves with "a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same," and keep an extra pound of powder and "four pounds of ball" at home.Item type:Item, 4 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)(1720)Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)(1701)Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."Item type:Item, 7 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 534, 537 (1823)(1762)Ensured that "every person so exempted shall always keep in his house or place of abode such arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, as are by the [1757] act required to be kept by the militia."Item type:Item, 5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 16 (1823)(1738)The militia under this act consisted of "all male persons, above the age of one and twenty years."Item type:Item, 4 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 78 (1823)(1720)Appropriated one thousand pounds to distribute "to each christian titheable [subject to taxation], one firelock, musket, one socket, bayonet fitted thereto, one cartouch box, eight pounds bullet, two pounds powder, until the whole one thousand pounds be laid out."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 335-38 (1823)(1705)The militia included "all male persons whatsoever, from sixteen to sixty years of age . . . to serve in horse or foot." An infantryman needed "a firelock, muskett or fusee well fixed, a good sword," cartridge box, and ammunition. He had to bring six rounds of ammunition to muster. Additionally, he had to "have at his place of abode two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shott, and bring the same into the field with him when thereunto specially required." A horseman needed the usual tack and ammunition accoutrements along with a pair of pistols and a sword. He had to bring eight rounds of ammunition to muster. At his usual place of abode, he also had to keep a well fixed carabine, two pounds of powder and eight pounds of shot. The act made it unlawful for creditors to seize a militiaman's arms as payment for debts. If a creditor nevertheless took someone's militia equipment, the seizure would "be unlawful and void." Any "officer or person that presumes to make or serve the same" (e.g., a sheriff serving a writ of attachment) would "be lyable to the suit of the party grieved, wherein double damages shall be given upon recovery."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 205-07 (1823)(1701)Provided 500-acre land grants, with the proviso that the grantee keep "upon the said land one christian man between sixteen and sixty years of age perfect of limb, able and fitt for service." Such men should be "continually provided with a well fixt musquett or fuzee, a good pistoll, sharp simeter, tomahauk and five pounds of good clean pistoll powder and twenty pounds of sizable leaden bulletts or swan or goose shott to be kept within the fort directed by this act besides the powder and shott for his necessary or usefull shooting at game..."Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 13 (1823)(1684)"every trooper of the respective colonies of this country, shall furnish and supply himself with a good able horse, saddle, and all arms and furniture, fitt and compleat for a trooper, and that every foot soldier, shall furnish himselfe, with a sword, musquet and other furniture fitt for a soldier, and that each trooper and foot soldier, be provided with two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott, and shall continually keep their armes well fixt, cleane, and fitt for the king's service."Item type:Item, 1786 Va. Acts 35(1786)Ch. 49, An Act Forbidding and Punishing Affrays: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man, great nor small, of what condition soever he be, except the Ministers of Justice in executing the precepts of the Courts of Justice, or in executing of their office, and such as be in their company assisting them, be so hardy to come before the justices of any court, or either of their Ministers of Justice, doing their office, with force and arms, on pain, to forfeit their armour to the Commonwealth, and their bodies to prison, at the pleasure of a Court; nor go nor ride armed by night nor by day, in fair or markets, or in other places, in terror of the county, upon pain of being arrested and committed to prison by any Justice on his own view, or proof by others, there to abide for so long a time as a jury, to be sworn for that purpose by the said Justice, shall direct, and in like manner to forfeit his armour to the Commonwealth; but no person shall be imprisoned for such offence by a longer space of time than one month."Item type:Item, 9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281-82 (1821)(1777)Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 3: An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of Allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. WHEREAS allegiance and protection are reciprocal, and those who will not bear the former are not entitled to the benefits of the later, Therefore Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that all free born male inhabitants of this state, above the age of sixteen years, except imported servants during the time of their service, shall, on or before the tenth day of October next, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before some one of the justices of the peace of the county, city, or borough, where they shall respectively inhabit; and the said justice shall give a certificate thereof to every such person, and the said oath or affirmation shall be as followeth, viz . . . And the justices tendering such oath or affirmation are hereby directed to deliver a list of the names of such recusants to the county lieutenant, or chief commanding officer of the militia, who is hereby authorised and directed forthwith to cause such recusants to be disarmedItem type:Item, 6 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 531 (1819)(1755)§ 5: That every person so as aforesaid enlisted (except free mulattoes, negroes, and Indians) shall be armed in the manner following, that is to say: That every person so as aforesaid enlisted (except free mulattoes, negroes, and Indians) shall be armed in the manner following, that is to say: Every soldier shall be furnished with a firelock well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same, a double cartouch-box.Item type:Item, 9 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 281–82 (1821)(1777)Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 3: Required any "free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age" to take an oath of allegiance to the state.Item type:Item, 1 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 481 (1823) (enacted 1680)(1680)An act for preventing Negroes Insurrections: "No negro, or enacted by the kings most excellent majestie by and with other slave to the consent of the generall assembly, and it is hereby carry arms, of enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after fensive: the publication of this law, it shall not be lawfull for any negroe or other slave to carry or arme himselfe with any club, staffe, gunn, sword or any other weapon of defence or offence..."Item type:Item, 5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 17 (1819) (enacted 1738)(1738)An act for the better Regulation of the Militia: "That every person, so as aforesaid listed, free mulattos, negros and Indians,) and placed or ranked in horse or foot, shall be armed and accoutred in manner following: that is to say, Every horse-man shall be furnished with a serviceable Isorse, a good saddle, with breast-plate, crupper, curb-bridle, carbine or fuzee, and bucket, holsters, a case of pistols, cutting sword or cutlass, double cartouch-box, and six charges of powder,- and constantly appear with the same, at the time and place appointed for muster and exercise; and shall keep at his place of abode, one pound of powder, and four pounds of ball, and bring the same into the field with him, when thereunto required. And every footman shall be furnished with a firelock, musket, or fuzee, well fixed, a bayonet fitted to the same, or a cutting sword or cutlass, a cartouch-box, and three charges of powder"Item type:Item, 1 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 226 (1823) (enacted 1680)(1680)"ALL persons except negroes to be provided with arms and amunition or be fined at pleasure of the Governor and Council."Item type:Item, 5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 62 (1819) (enacted 1738)(1738)Ch. 14, § 8: "That whosoever shall, hereafter, use any firehunting, or the killing of any deer by such means on any patented land; every person present at such fire hunting, shall forfeit and pay twenty shillings for every such offence: And if any Indian be found fire-hunting, as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful, for the owner of such land, or his or her overseer, to take away the gun of such Indian, and the same to keep to his own use.'"Item type:Item, 1794 Va. Acts 33(1786)Ch. 21: Prohibited any man from being armed at fairs or markets "in terror of the country."Item type:Item, 7 William Waller Hening, The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 35 (1820)(1756)Prohibited Catholics from being armed and requiring oaths of allegiance and supremacy in front of justices of the peace.Item type:Item, 1 Acts of Assembly, Passed in the Colony of Virginia, From 1662 to 1715, at 147 (1727)(1684)Prohibited impressing or taking from any person arms "that are already provided, or shall so provide or furnish himself; neither shall the same be liable to be taken by any Distress, Seizure, Attachment, or Execution?"?"Item type:Item, 1 Acts of Assembly, Passed in the Colony of Virginia, From 1662 to 1715, at 147 (1727)(1684)Required free Virginians to "provide and furnish themselves with a sword, musquet and other furniture fitt for a soldier? two pounds of powder, and eight pounds of shott?.Item type:Item, 1785 Va. Acts 2(1785)Ch. 1, § III, pt. 2: An Act to Amend and Reduce into one Act, the Several Laws for Regulating and Disciplining the Militia: Required members of the militia to keep arms, ammunition, and accoutrements ready when called for by their commanding officer.Item type:Item, 4 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 131 (1823)(1723)Ch. 4, § 14: "And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That no negro, mulatto,or Indian whatsoewver; (except as is hereafter excepted,) shall hereafter presume to keep, or carry any gun, powder, shot, any club, or other weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive; but that every gun, and all powder and shot,whipped. and every such club or weapon. as aforesaid, found or taken in the hands, custody, or possession of any such negro, mulatto, or Indian, shall be taken away..."Item type:Item, 5 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 61 (1819) (enacted 1738)(1738)Ch. 14, § 2: "That from and fter the passing of this act, it shall not be lawful for any person whatsoever, to hunt, shoot or kill, any bark, between the first day of December, and the last day of July, which shall be in any year; nor to hunt, shoot, or kill, any doe or fawn, between the first day of January, and the last day of September, in any year. And if any person whatsoever shall presume to hunt, shoot, or kill, or destroy, any such bucks, doe, or fawn, running wild in the woods, within the times herein before respectively limitted; or shall buy or receive the samee of any Indian, or other person; every such person so offending s?II forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings current money, for every buck, doe, or fawn, so killed, bought, or received;"Item type:Item, 3 William Waller Hening, Stat. at Large; Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia 403 (1823)(1705)Ch. 49: An act concerning Servants and Slaves: Directed masters at completion of indenture to provide to male servants "one well fixed musket or fuzee, of the value of twenty shillings, at least"