Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts - Escheated Estates records, 1779-1874

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:

Virginia. Auditor of Public Accounts (1776-1928). Escheated Estates Records, 1779-1874. Accession APA 658, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1.05 cu. ft. (2 boxes)
Creator:
Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts (1776-1928)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia. Auditor of Public Accounts (1776-1928). Escheated Estates Records, 1779-1874. Accession APA 658, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Escheated Estates Records, 1779-1874, contain accounts, bonds, deeds of trust, proceedings, and resolutions. The bulk of the collection are the accounts with escheators, arranged alphabetically by city or county name. The accounts show the sale of confiscated land, personal property, crops [timber, tobacco], and slaves. The accounts list the owner of the escheated estates and often include the name of the new owners. The finding aid lists the names of British subjects whose lands were escheated. The accounts also payed out fees to the court, salaries to escheators, summoning of a jury, sheriff fees, and advertising fees. The largest number of estates were in Norfolk County. Also included are several deeds of trust and resolutions from the House of Delegates. The oversize Proceedings folder also contains a list of escheated land listed alphabetically by county.

Biographical / historical:

During its session begun in May 1779 the General Assembly passed an act forbidding British subjects to hold real or personal property; any such property would be forfeited, or escheat, to the states. The escheated estates were sold and the proceeds were kept in the state treasury. A one-month period was set aside during which an individual might come forward and establish a claim to the proceeds from the sale of property but not title to the property. Commissioners of the sale for escheated estates certified to whom and for how much the sale was made and informed the auditor of public accounts.

In 1785 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the appointment of an escheator by the governor for each locality. An act was passed in December 1797 to permit escheators to sell land on credit if they thought it would enhance the price. The purchaser signed a deed of trust and a bond, copies of which were sent to the auditor.

Acquisition information:
Transferred from the Auditor of Public Accounts in 1913.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Oversize materials were separated and placed in an oversize box though everything is listed in alphabetical order in the finding aid. Researchers should pay special attention to note the box numbers.