Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Winchester (Va.) Deeds, 1785-1979 (bulk 1900-1979). Local government records collection, Winchester (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from the city of Winchester.

Historical Information

The City of Winchester, in Frederick County, was first known as Opequon, then as Frederick's Town (or Fredericktown), and, finally, upon establishment as a town in 1752, as Winchester. According to tradition, one of the town's founders, James Wood, named the town in honor of his birthplace in England. Winchester was incorporated as a town in 1779 and as a city in 1874.

Scope and Content

Winchester (Va.) Deeds, 1785-1979 (bulk 1900-1979) consist of deeds of bargain and sale, deeds of gift, mortgages, and deeds of trust. 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. Except for a few years early in the eighteenth century, slaves in Virginia were considered personal property and consequently were not usually sold by deed. However, they were often transferred in deeds of gift or were the property listed in mortgages and deeds of trust.

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.

This collection also includes Daily Index of Deeds for Recordation, 1902-1915 circa and General index to Deeds, 1789-1887 and 1912-1932.

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 including slaves.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

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

Additional Winchester 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."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Winchester (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans -- History
• Land subdivision -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Slavery -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Slaves -- Virginia -- Winchester

Geographical Names:

• Winchester (Va.) -- History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Deeds -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Land records -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Winchester
• Mortgage deeds -- Virginia -- Winchester

Adjunct Descriptive Data