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Surry County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1742-1862. The collection contains Free Negro Registers, 1794 to 1862, and Criminal Proceedings Against Free Persons, Slaves, etc., 1742-1822. Free negro registers document the name, age, physical appearance, and evidence of free birth or emancipation for free African Americans living in Surry County from 1794 to 1862. Additional information, such as names of spouses or parents or county of birth, is sometimes included. Criminal Proceedings are a summary record of criminal proceedings brought against slaves and free African Americans from 1742 to 1822.

Surry County (Va.) Marriage Register, 1768-1853, is essentially divided into two sections. The first section covering pages 1-206, 1768-1850, records the date of the marriage bond, the names of both parties, the names of the parents or guardians and the security or witnesses present. From 1809-1850, pages 80-206, there are eleven entries for marriages between "free persons of color." The second section covering pages 207-268, 1785-1853, records the date of the marriage, the names of both parties, the minister's name and the religious denomination of the minister. In additon, pages 269-277 (1850-1853) record the same information found in the first section. Beginning in 1852, however, the date of the marriage license (instead of marriage bond) is recorded. Page 278 lists three undated marriage bonds. Pages 279-281 (1853) record more extensive information--the date of the marriage, personal statistics on the bride and groom, the name of the minister and the location of the marriage ceremony. Like the first section, there are numerous entries recorded (48 total) for marriages between "free persons of color"--from 1804-1853 (pages 218-279.)

Surry County (Va.) Registers of Convicts, 1872-1929 are records of persons convicted of felonies within the county. Volume 1 covers the period from 1872-1903 and numbers 21 pages. Information found with the register includes the name of the person convicted, the residence of the individual, his or her race or color (including white, black or colored, brown, yellow or mulatto), the individual's height, eye color, hair color, age and occupation, the nature of the offense, the court in which convicted, the date of conviction and whether a pardon was granted. There is an internal index to this volume which is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the convict, A-W. Volume 2 covers the period from 1904-1929 and numbers 7 pages. Based on a form, the entries follow the same format as the first volume. Instead of a court conviction, sometimes an individual was convicted by a Justice of the Peace.

Wills, 1760-1913 of Surry County Court. Wills records 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 to 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.