A Guide to the Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818 Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818 1049171, 1049176

A Guide to the Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers: 1049171, 1049176

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: Library of Virginia staff

Repository

The Library of Virginia

Barcode numbers

1049171, 1049176

Title

Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818

Physical Characteristics

2 boxes and or volumes

Collector

Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records

Location

Library of Virginia

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818, Local government records collection, Fairfax County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Fairfax County. Portions of the collection were transferred under the accession numbers 29736 and 30196.

Historical Information

Fairfax County was named for Thomas Fairfax, sixth baron Fairfax of Cameron, proprietor of the Northern Neck. It was formed from Prince William County in 1742. Its area is 410 square miles, and the county seat is Fairfax.

Sheriffs appeared in Virginia when the original shires were formed in 1634. They originally had three functions: 1) law enforcement, 2) conduct of elections, and 3) financial officer. The sheriff's duties have been curtailed over the years, but he is still the major law enforcing agent in a county.

Created in 1742. Original wills and deeds as well as many other loose papers were destroyed during the Civil War. Deed books for twenty-six of the fifty-six years between 1763 and 1819 are missing. Numerous pre–Civil War minute books are missing as well.

Scope and Content

Fairfax County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1747-1818, consists of a Fee Book and miscellaneous Sheriff records including Royal Orders.

Related Material

Additional Fairfax County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Fairfax County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Fairfax County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia web site.