Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

The marriage records found in this collection were returned to Montgomery County (Va.) Circuit Court at the request of the clerk's office on 31 July 2015. They will be returned upon completion of local scanning project. There are no restrictions on the additional records in the collection.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Montgomery County (Va.) Miscellaneous Court Records, 1750-1861. Local Government Records Collection, Montgomery County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Montgomery County under accession numbers 21387, 23680, and 25277.

Historical Information

Montgomery County was formed from Fincastle County in 1776, and the county court first met on 7 January 1777. Part of Botetourt County was added in 1790. Part of Pulaski County was added in 1842. The county was named for Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the American assault on Quebec late in 1775.

Fincastle County was created from Botetourt County in 1772, and the county court first met on 5 January 1773. Fincastle County became extinct on 31 December 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky Counties. The county was named probably for George, Viscount Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, Viscount Fincastle; or for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was established in 1772 and named for George, Viscount Fincastle.

Scope and Content

Montgomery County (Va.) Miscellaneous Court Records, 1750-1861, contains the following record types: Election Records, Fiduciary Records, Land Records, Marriage Records, Military and Pension Records, Public Building and Grounds, Road and Bridge Records, School Records, Tax and Fiscal Records, and Wills.

The miscellaneous court records include a partial minute book and docket, 1779; Governors' circular letters, 1788-1809; miscellaneous correspondence, 1774-1818; a colonial three pound note; and various receipts and accounts, 1762-1835.

Election records consist of an 1844 presidential poll for Lafayette precinct.

Fiduciary Records, 1775-1803, contain settlements of estates, estate papers, and appraisals and appraisements.

Land records consist of deeds, 1753-1805; entries, 1767-1785; land grants, 1750-1857; depositions concerning surveys conducted along the Kanawa River by Thomas Teas and his capture by Native Americans, 1785; valuations of George Washington's Ohio land, 1775; and surveyor records kept primarily by William Preston, 1776-1793. The survey records of William Preston also includes 1782 and 1783 lists of Preston's property that lists his slaves by name and age.

Marriage records contain marriage bonds, 1773-1838, and marriage licenses, 1844-1857.

Military and Pension records include militia allowances, 1785; militia orders, 1795 and 1809; discharge papers, 1777; correspondence, 1773; and salt distributions, 1777.

Public Buildings and Grounds, 1788-1860, record plans for the building of the county courthouse and jail.

Road and Bridge records consist of ferry records for 1791.

School records consist of an account of tuition for indigent children in 1861. Information found in the account includes name of the child, age, name of parent or guardian, date of entrance, attendance record, cost of tuition, what branch of learning each child was engaged in, and names of school books used.

Tax and Fiscal records contain quitrents, 1755-1774; correspondence, 1784-1786; and account of county levy, 1794.

Wills are those of William Winston (1772, Hanover County) and Charles Sinclair (undated, North Carolina).

Related Material

Additional Montgomery County 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:

• Montgomery County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• African Americans--History.
• Courthouses--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Estates (Law)--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Personal property--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Public buildings--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Public records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Slaves--Virginia--Montgomery County.

Geographical Names:

• Montgomery County (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Deeds--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Election records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Fiduciary records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Land grants--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Land records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Marriage bonds--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Marriage licenses--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Marriage records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Military records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Plats--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Receipts--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Road and bridge records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• School records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Tax and fiscal records--Virginia--Montgomery County.
• Wills--Virginia--Montgomery County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data