Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Essex County (Va.) Deeds, 1674-1855 (bulk 1798-1807). Local Government Records Collection, Essex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Essex County.

Historical Information

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

Scope and Content

Essex County (Va.) Deeds, 1674-1855 (bulk 1798-1807) consist of deeds of bargain and sale, deeds of gift, mortgages, deeds of trust, and deeds of emancipation. 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.

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

Additional Essex 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

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Essex County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans -- History
• Land subdivision -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Slavery -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Slaves -- Virginia -- Essex County

Geographical Names:

• Essex County (Va.) -- History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Deeds -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Land records -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Essex County
• Mortgage deeds -- Virginia -- Essex County

Adjunct Descriptive Data