Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Rockbridge County (Va.) Wills, 1813-1913. Local Government Records Collection, Rockbridge 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 Rockbridge County.

Historical Information

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, an exceptional rock formation located in the county. The county was formed from Augusta and Botetourt counties in 1778, and another part of Botetourt was added later.

Individuals dying with a written will died testate. After the death of an individual, his or her will was brought into court, where two of the subscribing witnesses swore that the document was genuine. After the will was proved, the executor was bonded to carry out his or her duties to settle the estate. The court then ordered the will to be recorded.

Scope and Content

Rockbridge County (Va.) Wills, 1813-1913, record the deceased's plan for how his or her estate was to be divided among his or her heirs following his or her death. Information commonly recorded in wills include the name of the deceased, also referred as the testator; names of heirs; a listing of real and personal property (including slaves) and how it was to be divided among the heirs; names of individuals who were to be the will's executors; the date will was written; and the date will was recorded at the court house.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

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

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Rockbridge County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans--History
• Estates (Law)--Virginia--Rockbridge County
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Rockbridge County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Rockbridge County
• Slaves--Virginia--Rockbridge County

Geographical Names:

• Rockbridge County (Va.)--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Rockbridge County
• Wills--Virginia--Rockbridge County

Adjunct Descriptive Data