Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1765-1967. Local Government Records Collection, Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County (Va.).

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.

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

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Wills, 1865-1967, 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

Arranged chronological by year and then alphabetical by surname.

Related Material

Additional Mecklenburg County (Va.) Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Mecklenburg County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans--History
• Estates (Law)--Virginia--Mecklenburg County
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Mecklenburg County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Mecklenburg County
• Slaves--Virginia--Mecklenburg County

Geographical Names:

• Mecklenburg County--History

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Adjunct Descriptive Data