Lunenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1743-1928

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
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Lunenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1743-1928. Local government records collection, Lunenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
Lunenburg County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Lunenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1743-1928. Local government records collection, Lunenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Lunenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1743-1928, record the deceased's plan for how his or her estate was to be divided among his or her heirs following his or her death. Information commonly recorded in wills include the name of the deceased, also referred as the testator; names of heirs; a listing of real and personal property (including slaves) and how it was to be divided among the heirs; names of individuals who were to be the will's executors; the date will was written; and the date will was recorded at the court house.

Additional record types found in this collection include fiduciary records (inventories and accounts) and marriage lists. They were recorded in the Lunenburg County will books from 1760 to 1851. The collection also includes wills not recorded in will books.

Biographical / historical:

Lunenburg County was formed in 1745 from Brunswick County. Part of Charlotte County was added in 1777.

Individuals dying with a written will died testate. After the death of an individual, his or her will was brought into court, where two of the subscribing witnesses swore that the document was genuine. After the will was proved, the executor was bonded to carry out his or her duties to settle the estate. The court then ordered the will to be recorded.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Lunenburg County under the accession number 42852.
Arrangement:

Organized by date recorded in will books.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
13.00 cu. ft. (29 boxes)