Fauquier County (Va.) Estray Records, 1800-1831

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

Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov

Phone: (804) 692-3888

Web: www.lva.virginia.gov

Summary

Creator:

Fauquier County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

Fauquier County (Va.) Estray Records, 1800-1831, bound records giving public notice of valuable, tame animals, either lost or found wandering and presumed escaped from their owners, allowing the owners to reclaim the animals. Enteries generally indicate by whom the animal was taken up, before what justice the person went and when, and the description and appraisement (value) of the animal.

Biographical / historical:

Fauquier County was named for Francis Fauquier, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1758 to 1768. It was formed in 1759 from Prince William County.

Estrays were stray livestock found wandering. An inquest was held to determine the value of the livestock in order to reimburse the person who had found and cared for the animal. The report generally includes a physical description of the animal as well as an assessed monetary value.

Acquisition information:

These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Fauquier County.

Physical location:

Library of Virginia

Physical description:

2 v.