Caroline County (Va.) Wills, 1733-1841

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

Background

Scope and content:

Caroline County (Va.) Wills, 1733-1841, 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. The wills were exhibits in Caroline County chancery causes and judgments.

Biographical / historical:

Caroline County was named for Caroline of Anspach, consort of George II. It was formed from Essex, King and Queen, and King William Counties in 1728, and additional parts of King and Queen were added in 1742 and 1762.

Most loose records and deed books prior to 1836 and will books prior to 1853 were stolen, mutilated, or destroyed by Union troops who ransacked the courthouse in May 1864. A near-complete run of order books exists.

Acquisition information:

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Caroline County under the accession number 26675.

The wills in this collection were separated from Caroline County chancery causes and judgments at the courthouse at some point prior to transfer to the Library of Virginia. Following the transfer, many of the wills in this collection have been interfiled with the suit they were separated from. The wills were microfilmed prior to interfiling and are available on Caroline County (Va.) microfilm reel 7.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.10 cu. ft.