Charlottesville (Va.) Wills, 1888-1925

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:

Charlottesville (Va.), Wills, 1888-1925. Local Government Records Collection. Charlottesville (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

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

Charlottesville (Va.), Wills, 1888-1925. Local Government Records Collection. Charlottesville (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Charlottesville (Va.) Wills, 1888-1925, 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.

Included in this collection are copies of James M. Bowen's will recorded in 1880 and of George W. Clarkson's will recorded in 1885. The unrecorded will of Susan M. Goode, dated July 9, 1891 is found in the final folder in Box 5.

Biographical / historical:

Charlottesville, in Albemarle County, was named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of George III, and was established in 1762. Charlottesville was incorporated as a town in 1801 and as a city in 1888.

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 shipments of court papers from Charlottesville.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2.25 cu. ft. (5 boxes)