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Botetourt County (Va.) Records, circa 1768-1960, undated. Local government records collection, Botetourt County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Botetourt County.
Botetourt County was named for Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt, the royal governor from 1768-1770. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1769, and a part of Rockingham County was added in 1785. The county court first met on 13 February 1770.
Many of the loose records including pre-1830 chancery and pre-1854 judgments suffered water damage as a result of a courthouse fire on December 15, 1970. Because of the near loss of records, the General Assembly passed the Virginia Public Records Act in 1975 for the purpose of preserving local records. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.
Botetourt County (Va.) Records, circa 1768-1960, undated, consist of the following series: Court Records: (subfield series include Criminal Records, Chancery, Court Finance, Judgments and Clerk's Records), Court Records, Health and Medical Records, Organization Records, Business Records, Land Records, Fiduciary Records, Tax and Fiscal Records, Election Records, Miscellaneous Records, County Administrative Records: (subfield series include Treasurer's Records, Overseers of the Poor Records, Commissioner of the Revenue Records and Sheriff's Records), Marriage Records and Vital Statistics and Military and Pension Records.
Additional Botetourt County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult
Botetourt County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Botetourt County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the
For more information and a listing of lost records localities see
Court Records: Criminal Records: Commonwealth Causes, 1921-1934; Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (child support and alimony), 1923; Law and Chancery and Commonwealth Warrants and other Suit Papers, 1887-1960; Lunacy hearing of Hart Swann, 1903; List of Organization Trustees, 1920, 1930; Contracts and Agreements, 1881-1911; Division of Land of JMR Sprinkle deceased, 1902; Plat of lands of Nathan Lackey (condemnation), 1848; Deeds including suit papers concerning (chancery), 1874-1925; Petition to sell School Lands, 1928; Estate Papers, 1890-1928; Tax and Fiscal Records: Tax Affidavits, 1905-1933; Delinquent Land Tax, 1844, 1889; Election Records: Disputed Election, 1894.
Lands Sold for Taxes; Summons for Insolvent Debtors; Election of Salem Trustees: Fincastle Savings Bank.
Court Records: Docket Book, Unknown court (1849-1856)--DO NOT SERVE. Miscellaneous Records: Estray Book (n.d.) DO NOT SERVE. Miscellaneous Records: Fincastle and Lewisburg Mail-Stage Way Bills (1830s) DO NOT SERVE. County Administrative Records: Ledger Book of M.S. Cahoon, Treasurer of Botetourt, 1896 (MAY BE SERVED.)
**DO NOT SERVE** Miscellaneous Records: Unidentified Account Book, 1853-1860; Court Records: Memorandum Book (partial) circa 1786-1787; Rule Docket (fragments--multiples), circa 1800-1809 ; Fee Book, circa 1770s; Fee Book, circa 1785. DO NOT SERVE ANY OF THESE RECORDS AS THEY ARE TOO WATER DAMAGED AND FRAGILE.
Court Records: Chancery (1770-1774), Judgments: Accounts without Cases (1768-1786), Executions (1772-1773), Replevin Bonds (1772-1773), Criminal Records (1770-1771); Clerk's Notes and Lists in various court cases and processes to issue (1700s); Organization Records: Mount Olivet Lodge Bylaws and Newspaper clipping about National Masonic Convention (undated and 1862); County Adminstrative Records: Overseer of the Poor Records (undated); Tax and Fiscal Records: Tithables list of William Christian (1771); County Claims (1770-1777); List of Taxes, Clerks' Tickets, Sheriffs' Tickets, Surveyors' Tickets, County Administrative Records: Commissioner of the Revenue tickets, and Muster fines in the possession of Samuel McFerran late deputy sheriff and uncollected at his death (undated); Tax and Fiscal Records: Tax on town lots (land tax) (undated); Petitions against Liquor License (undated); Hemp Certificates (1771); Accounts (1766-1784): Marriage Records and Vital Statistics: Marriage Certificates and Licenses (badly damaged and unprocessed) (1850s)
Court Records: Judgments (processed) (1770-1784); Business Records: Smith and Briggs Brass Works (undated); Health and Medical Records: Unidentified Physician's Ledger (circa 1842-1846.)
Miscellaneous Records: Confederate States of America Mail Route Contracts (1863); Tax and Fiscal Records: County Claims (many related to care, guarding and provisioning of Tories and army deserters in jail) (1779-1780); Military and Pension Records: Revolutionary War Pension Applications (1820-1834); Blank Forms and Instructions from US War Department on Revolutionary War Pension Applications (1820s-1830s.)