Williamsburg (Va.) Records of City Council, 1879-1919

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:

Use microfilm copy, Williamsburg (Va.) Reel 4.

Preferred citation:

Williamsburg (Va.) Records of City Council, 1879-1919. Local government records collection, Williamsburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Williamsburg (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Williamsburg (Va.) Records of City Council, 1879-1919. Local government records collection, Williamsburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Williamsburg (Va.) Records of City Council, 1879-1919, consist of meeting minutes and financial transactions of the city council of Williamsburg. They record reports made to the council by the mayor, police chief, health commissioner, treasurer, street commission, and other town committees; adoption of ordinances and resolutions; petitions to the city council; and funds collected and disbursed.

Biographical / historical:

The City of Williamsburg, in James City and York Counties, was established by the General Assembly as Middle Plantation in 1633. After the capitol building at Jamestown burned in 1698, the assembly decided to move the capital of the colony to Middle Plantation, which was renamed Williamsburg in 1699 in honor of William III. Williamsburg was established in 1699 and declared a "city Incorporate" in 1722, although its actual status was that of a borough. It served as the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. Williamsburg was incorporated as a city in 1884.

James City County was named for James I. It was one of the eight shires established in 1634. Parts of New Kent and York Counties were added later. The county seat is Williamsburg.

James City County was recognized in 1634 as an original shire. Williamsburg was founded in 1699 and declared a “city Incorporate” by a royal charter in 1722, although its actual status was that of a borough. Beginning in 1770, the courts of James City County and Williamsburg shared a common courthouse. During the Civil War, the records of both localities were transferred to Richmond for safekeeping, but were destroyed by fire there on April 3, 1865. The records of the superior court of chancery for the Williamsburg district were destroyed by a courthouse fire in April 1911.

Acquisition information:

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the city of Williamsburg.

Microfilm reels were generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Program.

Arrangement:

Chronological by entry date.

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3 v.; 1 microfilm reel