Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Old Rappahannock County and Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1652-1806 (bulk 1677-1806). Local Government Records Collection, Essex 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 Essex County.

Wills, 1652-1728, were restored by the Jamestown Society in March 2008.

Historical Information

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

Old Rappahannock County was formed in 1656 from Lancaster County. It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties.

Lancaster County was named for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland and York Counties in 1651.

Scope and Content

Old Rappahannock County and Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1652-1806 (bulk 1677-1806), 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. Additional record types may be found in this collection such as fiduciary records (inventories and accounts.) The collection includes one will recorded in 1652 in Lancaster County.

Related Material

Essex, Lancaster and Old Rappahannock Counties Will Books 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--1677-1806
• Estate (Law)--Virginia--Essex County
• Estate (Law)--Virginia--Old Rappahannock County
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Essex County
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Old Rappahannock County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Essex County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Old Rappahannock County
• Slaves--Virginia--Essex County
• Slaves--Virginia--Old Rappahannock County

Geographical Names:

• Essex County--History
• Old Rappahannock County--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Essex County
• Wills---Virginia--Essex County
• Wills---Virginia--Old Rappahannock County

Adjunct Descriptive Data