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Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia© 2005 By the Library of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Library of Virginia Staff
Use microfilm copies, Lancaster County, Reels 1-7.
There are no restrictions.
Lancaster County (Va.) Deeds, Wills and Records, 1652-1793. Lancaster County Reels 1-7, Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
The original manuscript volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Lancaster County.
The negative photostatic copies were compiled and created by the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division, under the accession numbers 20158-20160, 20165, 20169, 20172, 20174, 20175, 20196, 20198, 20199, 20200, 20203-20204 and 20223-20224 from the original court records found in the Lancaster County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
Microfilm reels 1, 3-5 and 7 were generated by The Genealogical Society of Utah. Microfilm reels 2 and 6 were generated by the Virginia State Library's Microfilm Section.
Lancaster County was formed from Northumberland and York Counties in 1651. It was probably named for the English county.
The deed was signed by the grantor, and possibly his wife or anyone else having a claim to the property, and by at least two witnesses. On presentation to the court, deeds were proved and recorded. If the deed was not witnessed, the grantor acknowledged the deed in open court.
Individuals dying with a written will died testate. Individuals dying without a will died intestate. After the Revolutionary War, when Virginia's general inheritance law took effect, all heirs of intestate estates inherited equally.
Lancaster County (Va.) Deeds, Wills and Records, Book numbers 1-2,4, 6-7, 9, 11-19 and 21, 1652-1793, record deeds (deeds of bargain and sale, lease and release and deeds of gift); wills(including the name of testator, list of heirs and year will was proven in court) and records (such as inventories and appraisements, lists of sales of estates, estate accounts, settlements of estates and settlements of administration and guardians' accounts) for Lancaster County. Volumes 13 and 17 contain order books. These volumes also include other record categories, usually found in county court order or minute books, such as apprentice indentures, powers of attorney, sheriffs' bonds, allotments of dower rights, election polls, road orders, selling of property, and orphans'accounts. Unless noted otherwise, volumes contain unnumbered, alphabetical indices.
Chronological with the exception of Deeds, Wills, Records, Parts 1 and 2, Number 2, 1653-1702.
Additional Lancaster County Land Records and Wills can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
The original volumes are found at the Library of Virginia's State Records Center.
For practical purposes, this volume was divided into 2 separate books. Part 1 covers pages 1-242.
Part 2 covers pages 243-461. An unnumbered grantee-grantor index is found at the end of this volume. Wills are referenced in the grantor index. An interesting historical reason for the creation of this volume is found on page 461. This volume also contains deeds from 1700-1702(pages 399-461.)
This volume contains one will, 1671.
For practical purposes, this volume was divided into 2 separate books. Part 1 covers pages 1-270. An index is found in this volume.
Part 2 covers pages 271-537. A supplemental index is found at the end of Part 2.
For practical purposes, this volume was divided into 2 separate books. Part 1 covers pages 1-172. An index is found in this volume.
For practical purposes, this volume was divided into 2 separate books. Part 1 covers pages 1-173. An index is found in this volume. This volume contains Order Book No. 8, 1729-1743.
Numbered index found at end of book. An additional estate inventory is found on page 329 of index.
For practical purposes, this volume was divided into 2 separate books. Part 1 covers pages 1-165.
Part 2 covers pages 166-329. An index is found at the end of this volume.
An index is found at the beginning and end of this volume.
This volume contains deeds, wills and estate appraisements from pages 1-35. Order Book Number 12, 1764-1767, is found following the previous volume and covers pages 1-268. This volume contains information on court attendance, guardians' appointments, apprentice indentures, chancery causes, military appointments, grand jury presentments, wills, judgments and estate settlements. A numbered index is found at the end of the volume.
This volume contains a marriage bond, depositions and numerous wills.
This volume includes Oaths of Allegiance, inquisitions and a mill report.