Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Middlesex County (Va.) Will Books, 1698-1798 (bulk 1740-1793). Local government records collection, Middlesex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Middlesex County.

Historical Information

Middlesex County probably was named for the English county. It was formed from Lancaster County about 1669.

Numerous loose records from the nineteenth century including chancery, Will Books, and commonwealth causes are missing. Most volumes including deed books, will books, and order books exist because court clerk Philemon T. Woodward removed them from the courthouse for safekeeping during the Civil War.

Scope and Content

Middlesex County (Va.) Will Books, 1698-1798 (bulk 1740-1793) includes the name of testator, list of heirs and year the wills were proven in court and probate records such as inventories and appraisements.

There are eight Will Books in this collection. The Will Books cover the years 1698-1734, 1740-1793, and 1795-1798.

In common law an (e)stray is a wandering animal whose owner is unknown. Records of strays are notices of discovery of lost livestock, with reports of commissioners appointed to determine proper reimbursement of the finder for caring for the animals.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

Additional Middlesex County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

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

• Middlesex County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Estray Records--Virginia--Middlesex County.
• Fiduciary accounting--Virginia--Middlesex County.
• Inventories of decedents' estates--Virginia--Middlesex County.
• Wills -- Virginia -- Middlesex County.

Geographical Names:

• Middlesex County (Va.) -- History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Appraisals-- Virginia -- Middlesex County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Middlesex County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data