We regret that our scheduled presentation on memories of Hartwood Winery by Connie Hilker will have to be postponed for a future date.

Instead, Jerrilynn Eby will be presenting about the land record challenges following the Civil War. During their fourteen-month occupation of Stafford County, Union soldiers made at least two destructive raids on the courthouse and clerk’s office. They stole or destroyed about two-thirds of the county’s court records along with Stafford’s colonial seal and courthouse Bible. The impact of the loss of these records continues to impact landowners, researchers, and genealogists today.