Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Goochland County (Va.) Wills 1731-1919 (bulk 1788-1919). Local Government Records Collection, Goochland County (Va.) 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 Goochland County (Va.).

Historical Information

Goochland County was named for Sir William Gooch, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749. It was formed from Henrico County in 1728.

Individuals dying with a written will died testate. After the death of an individual, his or her will was brought into court, where two of the subscribing witnesses swore that the document was genuine. After the will was proved, the executor was bonded to carry out his or her duties to settle the estate. The court then ordered the will to be recorded.

Scope and Content

Goochland County (Va.) Wills, 1731-1919 (bulk 1788-1919), 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.)

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

Goochland County (Va.) 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:

• Goochland County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans--History
• Estates (Law)--Virginia--Goochland County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Goochland County
• Slaves--Virginia--Goochland County

Geographical Names:

• Goochland County--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Goochland County
• Wills--Virginia--Goochland County

Adjunct Descriptive Data