Copies of Virginia Land Office records, 1743-1912

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. Land Office. Copies of Virginia Land Office records, 1743-1914. Accession Land Office inventory entry no. 12, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Archives Branch, Richmond, VA 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Virginia. Land Office
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia. Land Office. Copies of Virginia Land Office records, 1743-1914. Accession Land Office inventory entry no. 12, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Archives Branch, Richmond, VA 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

These records contain copies of court records, separated from the files with which they belong, sent in to support claims; copies of documents from the Land Office prepared either for internal use or on request and not retrieved; and copies of documents predating the establishment of the Land Office in 1779. Included in the last category are General Court records, 1747-1772; Council records, 1743-1774; and county court orders certiying importation claims, 1750-1779. Total years covered are 1743; 1745; 1747-1748; 1750; 1753-1756; 1758; 1760; 1763-1765; 1770; 1772-1775; 1779; 1783-1787; 1790; 1793; 1795-1796; 1805-1806; 1810; 1817-1818; 1821; 1823-1825; 1827; 1829-1830; 1840; 1847; 1849; 1853-1854; 1860; 1864-1865; 1870-1871; 1875; 1879-1883; 1887; 1913

Contains bounty certificates for land grants issued to John Conoll in 1783 and Captain Thomas Armistead in 1782. The first was copied in 1913 and the second in 1875.

Contains a variety of council documents, including caveats issued against various individuals, orders of council, permission for a survey, and a memorial submitted by George Washington on behalf of a number of officers and soldiers for shares in 200,000 acres of land promised by Lt. Gov. Dinwiddie. Items are dated 1743, 1745, 1748, 1758, 1764, and 1772-1774.

Contains a variety of court orders and decrees related to land grants and warrants, including petitions for headright bounties, caveats issued against various individuals, documents regarding the guardianship of orphaned minors, and applications for the surveying or resurveying of land. Items are dated 1776, 1783, 1785, 1786, 1790, 1793, 1796, 1800, 1805, 1817, 1821, 1823-1825, 1829, 1853, 1854, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1871, 1875, 1879-1883, 1887, and 1888.

Contains copies of court orders, including statements claiming land under the royal charter from Great Britain and deeds of assignment. Items are dated 1750, 1763, 1770, 1775, and 1779.

Consists of petitions to the governor, lieutenant governor, and president of the council, for grants of land in various counties.

Contains copies of a number of surveys prepared for individuals in several counties.

Contains military warrants from 1840 for Aleck Saunders and William Shelby, and a warrant to survey the lands of Israil Smith from 1847.

Biographical / historical:

The act which established the previous Land Office next hit passed the General Assembly on 22 June 1779. The register was the head of the Office and was appointed by joint ballot of both houses of the legislature.

Acquisition information:
Accession LOI 12 transferred by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1948.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • I. Copies of Virginia Land Office records, 1743-1914

Items are arranged by subject matter.

By subject

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Arranged in reverse chronological order.

Physical description:
.3 cu. ft (1 box)