Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910

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. Some Norfolk County wills are available on microfilm at the Library of Virginia; use the microfilm copy, if available.

Preferred citation:

Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910. Local government records collection, Chesapeake (City)/Norfolk County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219

Summary

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

Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910. Local government records collection, Chesapeake (City)/Norfolk County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219

Background

Scope and content:

Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910, 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 may be found in this collection such as fiduciary records (inventories and accounts.) 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.

Biographical / historical:

Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, from his native county in England. It was formed from Lower Norfolk County in 1691. Norfolk County became extinct in 1963, when it was consolidated with the city of South Norfolk to form the city of Chesapeake.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Norfolk County.
Arrangement:

Chronological

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3.6 cu. ft. (8 boxes)