Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Deeds, 1765-1928 (bulk 1848-1928). Local government records collection, Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County.

Historical Information

Mecklenburg County was named, like Charlotte County, for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, consort of George III. It was formed from Lunenburg County in 1764.

Created in 1764. Numerous loose records prior to 1783 are missing. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

Scope and Content

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Deeds, 1765-1928 (bulk 1848-1928) 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.

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. Some years are arranged chronologically then additionally alphabetically by surname.

Related Material

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

Additional Mecklenburg 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."

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

• Mecklenburg County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

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

Geographical Names:

• Mecklenburg County (Va.) -- History

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Adjunct Descriptive Data