Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Rockingham County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1785-1913. Barcode number 1159572 Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Rockingham County.

Historical Information

Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, a second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonists in their disputes with Great Britain. It was formed from Augusta County in 1778.

Created in 1778. A courthouse fire in 1787 destroyed wills and estate records, primarily. In June 1864 during the Civil War, court records (mostly volumes) were removed from the courthouse and loaded on a wagon to be taken to place of safety on or beyond the Blue Ridge. The wagon was overtaken by Union troops near Port Republic and set on fire, which was put out by local citizens. Many order books, deed books, will books, and fiduciary books, however, were lost or severely damaged by the fire. The loose records that remained at the courthouse were undamaged. Pre-1865 records including deeds and wills were rerecorded following an act of assembly passed in November 1884.

Scope and Content

Rockingham County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1785-1913. The materials consist of reports, orders and sundry documents related to the courthouse and jail. Included are orders to inspect the courthouse; jail inspectors' reports, 1820-1889, 1905-1913; and documents related to the construction of a new courthouse, 1895-1899.

Of note is a small floor plan of the second Rockingham County courthouse, circa 1791, with some notes on finishing materials. The plan shows 32 by 26 foot, two-story building with a curved justices' bench.

Related Material

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

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Virginia. County Court (Rockingham County)

Subjects:

• Architectural drawings -- Virginia -- Rockingham County.
• Courthouses -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Designs and plans.
• Jails -- Virginia -- Rockingham County.
• Public buildings -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Designs and plans.

Geographical Names:

• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- 18th century.
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Architectural drawings -- Virginia -- Rockingham County.
• Reports -- Virginia -- Rockingham County.
• Specifications -- Virginia -- Rockingham County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data