Northumberland County (Va.) Wills, circa 1792-1904

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:

Northumberland County (Va.) Wills, circa 1792-1904. Local government record collection, Northumberland County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Northumberland County
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Northumberland County (Va.) Wills, circa 1792-1904. Local government record collection, Northumberland County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Northumberland County (Va.) Wills circa 1792-1904, 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 to 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 the will was written; and the date the will was recorded at the court house.

Biographical / historical:

Northumberland County probably was named for the English county. It was formed about 1645 from the district of Chickacoan, the early-seventeenth-century name for the region between the Potomac and the Rappahannock rivers.

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.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Northumberland County under the accession number 43283.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by date recorded in court.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
0.1 cu. t.