An Inventory of Records for the Virtual Jamestown Project:

 

 

 

(Return to Reference Center)

 

1) Rockefeller Library (Colonial Williamsburg)

2) Library of Virginia,

3) Virginia Historical Society

4) Virginia Colonial Records Project

5) Alderman Library (University of Virginia)

6) Huntington Library

7) Selected Printed Sources

 

 

2) Documents at the Library of Virginia

 

 

Accomack County (established in 1663 from Northampton County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Court Papers, 1681-ca. 1860, ca. 20 cu. ft.

            Order Books, 1666-70, 1676-78, 1690-1703, 1710-31, 1737-63, 1765-67, 21

vols.; see also Land Records.

 

Land Records

            Deed, Will, and Order Books [titles vary], 1663-97, 1717-1729, 8 vols.

 

Tax and Fiscal Records

            Lists of Tithables, 1676-95, 4 items.

 

Wills

            Wills (and inventories), ca. 1695-1830, ca. 15 cu. ft.; see also Fiduciary Records.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1666-70, 1676-78, 1690-1860, 31 reels.

 

Land Records

            Deed, Will, and Order Books [titles vary], 1663-1746, 11 reels.

 

 

Charles City County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1672-73, 1677-79, 1737-51, 1758-62; 4 vols.; and 1650, 1680,

1682, 1685, 1722-23, 34 pp.; see also Land Records.

            Minute Books, 1696 and 1762, 6 pp.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, and Orders, etc., 1655-65, 1 vol.

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Virginia Grand Assembly Acts 22-30, 1641/2, 1 item.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1650, 1672-73, 1677-80, 1685, 1687-96, 1737-62, 3 reels.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, Orders, etc., 1655-65, 1 reel (part); and Deeds and Wills, 1689-

                        90, 1692/3-94, 1766-74, 2 reels.

 

 

Elizabeth City County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Land Records

Record Book, 1684-99, 2 vols.

Records, 1684, 1688-1702 [Deeds, Wills, Orders, 1688-99], 2 vols.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, Etc., [1684] 1688-98, 1 reel.

            Records (deeds, wills, inventories, orders & settlements), 1684-99, 1 reel

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Will of Thomas Eaton, 1659, 2 pp., 1 reel (partial).

 

 

Essex County (established in 1692 from [Old] Rappahannock County which was

established in 1656 from Lancaster County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            [Old] Rappahannock County Order Books, 1683-92, 2 vols.

            Court Papers (including wills, deeds, bonds, etc.), [1652], 1677-1848, n.d., 40

items.

            Orders, 1665-99, 2 vols.

            Records [Orders, etc., No. 1, and Deeds, Wills, etc.], 1692-95, 1 vol.

 

Land Records

            [Old] Rappahannock County Records [deeds, wills, etc.], 1656-64, 1 vol.; Deeds,

                        etc., Nos. 3-6, 1663-82, 4 vols.; Deed Books Nos. 7-8, 1682-88, 2 vols.;

                        see also Wills.

            Deeds, etc. [titles vary], Nos. 9-11, 1695-1704, 3 vols.

 

Wills

            [Old] Rappahannock County Wills, Deeds, etc., No. 1, 1665-77, 1 vol.; and Will

                        Book No. 2, 1677-82, 1 vol.; see also Land Records.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            [Old] Rappahannock County Order Books [Nos. 1-2], 1683-92, 1 reel.

            Orders, etc. [Deeds, Wills, etc.], No. 1, 1692-95, 2 reels.

            Orders, 1695-99, 1 reel.

 

Land Records

            [Old] Rappahannock County Records [Deeds, Wills, etc.; titles vary], Nos. [1] and

                        3-8, 1656-92, 9 reels; see also Wills.

            Deeds, etc. [titles vary], Nos. 9-28, 1695-1761, 14 reels; see also Court Records—

                        County Court.

 

Wills

            [Old] Rappahannock County Wills, Deeds, etc., Nos. 1-2, 1665-82, 2 reels; see

                        also Land Records.

 

 

Gloucester County (established in 1651 from York County)

 

no extant seventeenth-century records

 

 

Henrico County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Bonds/Commissions/Oaths

            Appointment, 1696, 1 p.

 

Court Records—County Court

            Court Record [minutes?], 1687, 4 pp.

            Minute Books, 1682-1701, 1 vol.

            Miscellaneous Court Records [wills, deeds, etc.], 1650-1807, 7 vols.

            Order Books [including wills], 1678-[1701], 1707-14, 1719-24, 1755-69, 8 vols.

            Orphans Court, 1697-1739, 1 vol.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, etc. [titles vary], 1677-92, 1688-1704, 1706-18, 1725-37, 1744-67,

                        10 vols.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Miscellaneous Court Records [deeds, wills, etc.], vols 1-7, 1650-1807, 3 reels.

            Orders [minutes], 1694-1701, 1707-14, 1719-24, 1737-46, 1752-69, 4 reels.

 

Fiduciary Records

            Orphans’ Court [Record Book No. 4], 1677-1739, 1 reel.

 

Land Records

            Records [deeds, wills, etc.; titles vary], 1677-1704, 1706-18, 1725-37, 1744-82, 7

                        reels; see also Court Records—County Court.

 

 

Isle of Wight County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Land Records

            Deed Books [titles vary], 1-2, 5-11, and 13-16, 1688-1715, 1736-65, 1772-93,

                        13 vols.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, and Guardians’ Accounts Book A [Great Book 1], 1636-1767, 1

reel.

            Deed Books 1-40, 1688-1715, 1729-1866, 18 reels.

 

Wills

            Record of Wills, Deeds, etc., vols. 1-2, 1661-1719, 2 reels.; see also Land

Records.

 

 

James City County (established in 1634)

 

no extant seventeenth-century records

 

 

King and Queen County (established in 1691 from New Kent County)

 

no extant seventeenth-century records

 

 

Lancaster County (established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Orders, etc. (including wills and deeds) [titles vary], 1655-66, 1 vol.; Nos. 1, 3-8,

                        10-11, and 14-18, 1666-80, 1686-1743, 1752-64, 1767-89, 14 vols.; No.

                        2, 1680-86, 1 vol.; see also Land Records and Wills.

 

Fiduciary Records

            Estate Papers (inventories, etc.), 1651-1797, 43 items.

            Inventory of the Estate of Teague Carroll, 1666, 1 item.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, 1661-1801, 1818, .9 cu. ft.

            Deeds, etc. (also wills and orders) [titles vary], No. 1, 1652-57, 1 vol.; Nos. 2, 4,

6-7, 9, 11-19, and 21, 1654-1702, 1666-1782, 15 vols.; and 1699-1800

(also Wills, 1661-1787) 1 vol.; see also Court Records—County Court and

Wills. Land and Property Records (including deeds, bills of sale for slaves,

 etc.), 1665-1798, ca. 75 items.

 

Marriage Records and Vital Statistics

            Marriage Bonds and Records, 1679, 1701-1848, ca. 1.5 cu. ft.

 

Wills

            Will of Tobias Hunter, 1668-69, 1 item.

            Wills, etc. (includes deeds), 1653-99, 1 vol.; Nos. 5, 8, 20, and 22, 1674-1709,

1770-95, 4 vols.; see also Land Records.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Orders, etc. [titles vary], Nos. 1-7, 9-11, and 14-18, 1655-1729, 1743-64, 1767-

                        89, 8 reels.

 

Fiduciary Records

            Inventories, 1650-1799, 11 reels.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, 1660-1899, 7 reels.

            Deeds, etc. [nonconsecutively numbered], 1652-1770, 6 reels

 

Wills

            Wills, etc. [nonconsecutively numbered], 1674-1727, 1770-1925, 5 reels; see also

                        Land Records.

 

 

Middlesex County (established in 1669 from Lancaster County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1673-80 (includes deeds and wills), 1680-94, 1732-37, 1740-44 and

                        1782-83, 1745-67, 1769-84, and 1764-86, 10 vols.; Order Book No. 3,

1694-1705, 1 vol.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, etc., 1687-1750 and Miscellaneous Records, 1752-1831 (compiled from loose papers), 1 vol.; Deed Books Nos. 2-[4], 1679/80-1720, 3 vols.; see

                        also Court Records—County Court.

 

Military and Pension Records

            Inventories of Stores, etc. [militia records found in the back of Christ Church

Parish Register], 1678/9-82, 1 vol.

 

Wills

            Wills, etc., 1675-1798 (compiled from loose papers), 1 vol.; Will Books [A]-H,

1698-1734, 1740-93, 1795-98, 8 vols.; see also Court Records—County Court.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Book [No. 1], 1673-80, 1 reel; Order Books Nos. 2-6, 1680-1726, 3 reels.

 

Deeds

            Deeds, etc. (also miscellaneous records), Nos. [1]-3, 1687-1750, 1679-1720, 2

reels.

 

Marriage Records and Vital Statistics

            Miscellaneous Records of Marriages and Deaths [and Births], 1663-1763, 1 reel.

 

Wills

            Wills, etc., 1675-1798, 1 reel; Will Books [A]-G, 1698-1734, 1740-93, 3 reels; see

                        also Court Records—County Court

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Guthrie Family Records, [1686-1946], 1 reel.

 

 

Nansemond County (established 1637 as Upper Norfolk County; changed to

Nansemond County in 1646)

 

 

no extant seventeenth-century records

 

 

New Kent County (established in 1654 from York County)

 

Original Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds, 1697-1827, 1 vol.

            Land Grants, 1674, 1679, 2 items.

 

 

Norfolk County (established in 169l from Lower Norfolk County which was

established from New Norfolk County in 1637)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Minute Book, 1637-46, 1 vol.

 

Land Records

Minute Book (deeds), 1637-46, 1 vol.

Deed Books Nos. 4-6, 1675-86, 1686-95, 1695-1703, 3 vols.; see also Wills.

 

Wills

            Wills & Deeds B-E, 1646-51, 1651-56, 1656-66, 1666-75, 4 vols.; see also Deeds.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            see Deeds and Wills.

 

Land Records

            Deed Book A (includes wills), 1637-46, 1 reel.

            Deed Books Nos. 4-6, 1675-86, 1686-95, 1695-1703, 3 reels; see also Wills.

 

Wills

            Wills & Deeds B-E, 1646-51, 1651-56, 1656-66, 1666-75, 4 reels; see also Deeds

 

 

Northampton County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Accawmack Orders, Deeds, etc., No. 1, 1632-40, 2 vols. and Accawmack Orders,

                        Deeds, and Wills No. 2, 1640-45, 1 vol.

            Order Books Nos. 6-[7], 10-12, and 15-18, 1655-64, 1674-89, 1710-29, 9 vols.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, etc., 1657-66, 1668-80, 1711-25, 4 vols.; Deeds, etc. [titles vary],

                        Nos. 3-5, 7-8, and 11-12, 1645-68, 1680-1707, 6 vols.

 

Tax and Fiscal Records

            Tithable List, 1670, 1 item; and Tithables, 1662-64, 1675-77, 15 pp.

 

Wills

            Wills and Deeds, 1657-66, 1 vol.; [Wills] Orders No. 9, 1664-74, 1 vol.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books [titles vary], Nos. 1-2, 6-[8], 15-24, and 30-44, 1632-45, 1655-64,

                        1710-58, 1783-1865, 18 reels.; see also Land Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, etc., Nos. 3-5, 7-8, and 11-12, 1645-[56], [1654]-68, 1680-1707, 3

                        reels; Deeds, Wills, etc., 1657-66, 1668-80, 1718-25, 3 reels; see also

                        Court Records—County Court and Wills.

 

Tax and Fiscal Records

            Tithables, 1662-64, 1675-77, 1 reel.

 

Wills

            [Wills] Order Books [titles vary] Nos. 9-14, 1664-1710, 2 reels; see also Court

Records—County Court and Land Records.

 

 

Northumberland County (established ca. 1645 from the district of Chickacoan, the

area between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1652-1770, 1773-83, 17 vols.

 

Land Records

            Deeds and Orders, 1650-52, 1 vol.

            Record Books [deeds, wills, and fiduciary accounts], 1652-72, 1706-29, 1738-87,

                        23 vols.

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1652-1871, 21 reels.; see also Land Records.

 

Land Records

            Dees and Orders [Record Books] 1650-523, 1 reel; Records Books (including

wills), 1652-72, 1706-29, 1738-49, 4 reels.

 

 

Princess Anne County (established in 1691 from Lower Norfolk County which

was established in 1637 from New Norfolk County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Book No. 1, 1691-1709, 1 vol.

 

Land Records

            Deed Book No. 1 (includes wills), 1691-1708, 1 vol.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Book No. 1, 1691-1709, 1 reel.

 

Land Records

            Deed Book No. 1 (includes wills), 1691-1708, 1 reel.

 

 

Richmond County (established in 1692 from [Old] Rappahannock County which

was established in 1656 from Lancaster County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Miscellaneous Records, 1699-1724, 1 vol.

            Order Books, Nos. 1-15, 21, 1692-1762, 1779-94, 16 vols.

 

Land Records

            Deed Books Nos. 1-16, 1692-1793, 15 vols.

            Folly Neck Land Grant, 1663-68, 2 items.

 

Wills

            Records Recorded [includes wills and inventories], 1699, 5 items.

            Wills and Inventories, 1699-1717, 1796-97, 2 vols. and 1 cu. ft.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Oder Books No. 1-21, 24-31, 1692-1794, 1816-71, 16 reels.

 

Land Records

            Deeds Nos. 1-30, 1692-1869, 20 reels.

 

Wills

            Wills and Inventories, 1699-1717, 1 reel.

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Miscellaneous Records, 1699-1724, 1 reel.

            North Farnham Parish Record, 1672-1801, 1 reel.

 

 

Stafford County (established in 1664 from Westmoreland County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Court Records, 1664-68, 1689-93, 1 vol.

            Court Records, 1680, 1 booklet.

            Loose Court Records, 1671-1797, .1 cu. ft.

 

Land Records

            Deed Books Liber P, [S] and unnumbered, 1686-93, 1 vol.

 

Wills

            Will Books Liber Z and M, 1699-1709, 1729-48, 2 vols.; see also Land Records.

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Miscellaneous Papers, 1664/5-1828, 1747-84, 28 items.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1664-68, 1689-93, 1790-93, 1806-09, 1825-27, 3 reels; see also

Land Records

 

Wills

            Will Books Liber Z, M, O, 1699-1709, 1729-63, 1 reel.

 

 

Surry County (established in 1652 from James City County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order, 1681, 1 item.

            Order Books, 1654-1718, 1743-49 [volume for 1654-72 contains deeds and wills],

                        8 vols., see also Land Records

 

Land Records

            Deed Books [titles vary], 1645-86, 1694-1715, 1730-54, 1783-87, 1792-99 [some

                        volumes include wills and fiduciary records and volume for 1645-86

includes orders], 19 vols.; see Court Records—County Court and Wills.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Orders, 1671-1718, 1741-1826, 1829-77, 14 reels.

 

Fiduciary Records

            Guardians’ Accounts, 1672-1831, 1847-65, 3 reels.

 

Land Records

            Deeds, Wills, Etc. Nos. 1-9, 1652-1754, 6 reels.

 

 

Warwick County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Bonds, 1668, 1696-97.

Court Records—County Court

Order Books (partial), 1646/7, 1663, 1680, 1688, 1691, 1698-1701.

Writs, 1689.

 

Fiduciary Records

Appointment of Executrix, 1697, 1 item.

Estate settlement, 1696-97.

Guardian Account, 1657, 1 item.

Inventories, 1685, 1696-97, 2 items.

 

Land Records

Deeds, 1662, 1688, 1696-98.

 

Wills

Record Book, 1648-51, 1 vol.

Wills, 1685, 1688, 1696/7.

 

Miscellaneous Records

Depositions, 1697, 2 items.

Livestock Registry [includes guardians’ account and deed], 1656-87, 1 vol.

(partial).

 

Power of Attorney, 1696/7, 1 item.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Miscellaneous Records

Livestock Registry [includes guardians’ account and deed], 1656-87, 1 reel

(partial).

 

 

Westmoreland County (established in 1653 from Northumberland County)

 

Original Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1662-64, 1675/6-1688/9, 1690-1746/7, 1750-64, 1776-95, 1797-

                        1801, 1804-18, 23 vols.

 

Fiduciary Records

            Inventories, 1664, 1853-98, 24 items.

 

Land Records

            Deeds and Wills Nos. 1-20 [titles vary], 1653-71, 1691-99, 1701-09, 1717-1803

                        [No. 19 includes orders], 21 vols.

            Deeds, Patents, etc. [includes wills] 1655-77, 1 vol.

            Deeds, Wills, etc., 1661-62, 1 vol.

            Deeds, Wills, Patents, etc., 1653-59, 1 vol.

 

Wills

            Wills, 1664, 1 item.

 

Miscellaneous Records

            Miscellaneous Paper [clerk’s notations, includes marriage records], 1691-92, 1

item.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Court Records—County Court

            Order Books, 1662-64, 1675-1764, 1776-95, 1797-1867, 20 reels; see also Land

                        Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds and Wills Nos. 1-37, 1653-71, 1691-99, 1701-09, 1712-1868, 25 reels.

            Deeds, Wills, Patents [titles vary], 1653-59, 1661-62, 1665-77, 1 reel.

 

 

York County (established in 1634)

 

Original Records

 

Land Records

            Deeds and Bonds Nos. 1-3, 1694-1729, 3 vols.

            Deeds, Orders, and Wills, Etc. Nos. 1-11, 13, 1633-62, 1665-1702, 1706-10, 25

vols.

 

 

Microfilm Records

 

Land Records

            Deed Books Nox. 1-16, [titles vary, Nos. 1-3 contain bonds], 1694-1866, 44 reels.

            Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc. Nos. 1-13, 1633-1710, 11 reels.

 

 

Source:  A Preliminary Guide to pre-1904 County Records in the Archives Branch, Virginia State Library and Archives, comp. Susanne Smith Ray, Lyndon H. Hart III, and J. Christian Kolbe, (Richmond, Virginia:  Virginia State Library and Archives, 1987).