Collections : [Library of Virginia]

Caroline County (Va.) Land Records, 1728-1840, include deeds, plats, articles of agreement, processioners' returns, and miscellaneous land related records. The deeds, plats, and articles of agreement were exhibits in Caroline County chancery causes and judgments.

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.

The Culpeper County (Va.), Circuit Court, Court Records, 1793-1926 circa, includes miscellaneous court records of the following type: Bonds, Criminal, Deeds, Grants, and Judgments. The criminal causes related to free African Americans who stayed in Virginia beyond 12 months following their emancipation. Chancery causes previously included in this material have been removed and indexed with the Culpeper County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1829-1913.

Dinwiddie County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1871-1919, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisitions, depositions and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisitions include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.

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.

Franklin County (Va.) Partitions, circa 1807-1900, are court records related to the division of property, mainly land and slaves. Many of these records origniated from suits heard in the chancery court and law court. Once the suit was finally heard documents that recorded the division of property including assignments of dowery, land surveys, plats, commissioners' reports, and division of slaves were removed from the suits by the court clerk and filed as a separate court series called "partitions." Information found in these records include the name of individual whose property was partitioned, names of the recipients of the property, how much they received, and a description of the property. Partitions involving the division of slaves include the names of the slaves, ages, value, and in some instances family relationships among the slaves.

Goochland County (Va.) Wills, 1731-1919 (bulk 1788-1919), 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.)

Henrico County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1789-1942, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings, train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the deceased was African American, the inquest would identify the deceased as a slave or free person if known. If the deceased was a slave, the inquest would include, if known, the name of the slaveowner and the slaveowner's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased. Slaves were deponents in coroner investigations.

Henrico County (Va.) Wills, 1775-1931, 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.)

Isle of Wight County (Va.) Wills, 1783-1945, 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.)