Spotsylvania County (Va.) Orphans' Account Book, 1759-1777

Access and use

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

Collection context

Summary

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

Background

Scope and content:

Spotsylvania County (Va.) Orphans' Account Book dates from 1759-1777. Since ca. 1660 guardians have been required to file a yearly account with the clerk of the court. These accounts are sometimes called orphans' accounts.

Biographical / historical:

Spotsylvania County was formed from Essex, King William, and King and Queen Counties by a statute adopted in 1720 to take effect on 1 May 1721. The county was named for Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1710 to 1722.

The original records were created by the County Court.

Created by an act of 1720 to take effect on May 1, 1721. Many loose county court papers prior to 1839, when the courthouse moved from Fredericksburg to Spotsylvania Courthouse, are missing. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist. The district court, superior court, and circuit court records of Spotsylvania County from 1813 to 1889 are in Fredericksburg.

Acquisition information:
This volume was created by the staff of the Virginia State Library's (now the Library of Virginia) Archives Division.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 photostatic volume