Franklin County (Va.) Land Records, circa 1784-1917

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:
Franklin County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Franklin County (Va.) Land Records, circa 1784-1917, include deeds, plats, articles of agreement, processioners' returns, and miscellaneous land related records. The deeds, plats, and articles of agreement were exhibits in Franklin County court proceedings. They were separated from Franklin County court cases at the courthouse at some point prior to transfer to the Library of Virginia. The court cases they were removed from are found in Franklin County Determined Causes, 1789-1937, stored at the Library of Virginia.

On presentation to the court, deeds were proved and recorded. If the deed was not witnessed, the grantor acknowledged the deed in open court. A few of the deeds include plats. Except for a few years early in the eighteenth century, slaves in Virginia were considered personal property and consequently were not usually sold by deed. However, they were often transferred in deeds of gift or were the property listed in mortgages and deeds of trust.

Processioners' returns record area processioned with geographical landmarks, roads, property lines noted, the names of the persons present, the date(s) when the processioning occurred, the names of the processioners, and the date that the return was recorded by the county court.

Biographical / historical:

Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin and was formed from Bedford and Henry Counties in 1785.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Franklin County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 box.