Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Newport News (Va.) Deeds, 1857-1957 (bulk 1883-1957). Local government records collection, Newport News (City)/Warwick County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the city of Newport News.

Historical Information

Newport News was located in Warwick County, which is now extinct. The origin of the name is uncertain but the phrase "Newportes News" appeared in documents as early as 1619 and probably commemorated Christopher Newport, who made five voyages to Virginia between 1607 and 1619. Newport News was a small settlement until late in the nineteenth century, when it became the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. It was established in 1880 and incorporated as a city by act of the General Assembly in 1896 without ever having been incorporated as a town. Newport News was enlarged by consolidation with the city of Warwick in 1858.

Warwick County was originally called Warwick River County when it was formed as one of the original eight shires in 1634. The shorter name was adopted in 1643. It was named either for Robert Rich, earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or for the county of Warwick in England. Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became the city of Warwick. The new city was consolidated with the city of Newport News in 1958 and took the latter's name. Denbigh was the county seat.

Scope and Content

Newport News (Va.) Deeds, 1857-1957 (bulk 1883-1957) consist of deeds of bargain and sale, deeds of gift, mortgages, and deeds of trust recorded in Warwick County and Newport News. On presentation to the court, deeds were proved and recorded. If the deed was not witnessed, the grantor acknowledged the deed in open court. A few of the deeds include plats.

Deeds of bargain and sale are the most commonly recorded deed in which one individual sells property, usually land, but occasionally personal property, to another individual. Such deeds show the names of the grantor and grantee, the residence of both parties, a description of what is being sold, the consideration (or price), the location of the tract of land, the tract's boundaries, and any limitations on the property being sold. 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. Appended to the deed may be a memorandum of livery of seisin, stating that the property has changed hands and that peaceful possession has taken place.

Deeds of gift are often found transferring property, either real or personal, from one individual to another "for love and affection." The degree of kinship, if any, between the grantor and grantee is sometimes stated.

Mortgages and deeds of trust were deeds where one party is indebted to another and transfers or mortgages property to a third party to secure the debt.

The collection may include additional record types that were recorded in deed books such as officials' bonds, fiduciary records, marriage records, road and bridge records, and bills of sale of property.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

Deed Books and Indices to Deeds for Newport News and Warwick County can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Additional Newport News and Warwick County Land Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm

Warwick County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Warwick 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.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Newport News (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• Land subdivision -- Virginia -- Newport News
• Land subdivision -- Virginia -- Warwick County

Geographical Names:

• Newport News (Va.) -- History
• Warwick County (Va.) -- History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Deeds -- Virginia -- Newport News
• Deeds -- Virginia -- Warwick County
• Land records -- Virginia -- Newport News
• Land records -- Virginia -- Warwick County
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Newport News
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Warwick County
• Mortgage deeds -- Virginia -- Newport News
• Mortgage deeds -- Virginia -- Warwick County

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Warwick County (Va.) Circuit Court

Adjunct Descriptive Data