Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818, consists of a Fee Book and miscellaneous Sheriff records including Royal Orders.

Biographical / historical:

Fairfax County was named for Thomas Fairfax, sixth baron Fairfax of Cameron, proprietor of the Northern Neck. It was formed from Prince William County in 1742. Its area is 410 square miles, and the county seat is Fairfax.

Sheriffs appeared in Virginia when the original shires were formed in 1634. They originally had three functions: 1) law enforcement, 2) conduct of elections, and 3) financial officer. The sheriff's duties have been curtailed over the years, but he is still the major law enforcing agent in a county.

Created in 1742. Original wills and deeds as well as many other loose papers were destroyed during the Civil War. Deed books for twenty-six of the fifty-six years between 1763 and 1819 are missing. Numerous pre–Civil War minute books are missing as well.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Fairfax County. Portions of the collection were transferred under the accession numbers 29736 and 30196.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2 boxes and or volumes