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

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

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.

Summary

Creator:
Essex County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
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.

Background

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

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.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
8 v.; 1.80 cu. ft. (3 boxes)