Rockingham County (Va.) Deeds, 1756-1920

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:

Rockingham County (Va.) Deeds, 1756-1920. Local Government Records Collection, Rockingham County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

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

Rockingham County (Va.) Deeds, 1756-1920. Local Government Records Collection, Rockingham County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Rockingham County (Va.) Deeds, 1756-1920, consist of deeds of bargain and sale, deeds of gift, mortgages, deeds of trust, and deeds of emancipation or manumission. Pre-1866 deeds include transactions of enslaved people. On presentation to the court, deeds were proved and recorded. If the deed was not witnessed, the grantor acknowledged the deed in open court. A few of the deeds include plats.

Biographical / historical:

Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg.

Created in 1778. A courthouse fire in 1787 destroyed wills and estate records, primarily. In June 1864 during the Civil War, court records (mostly volumes) were removed from the courthouse and loaded on a wagon to be taken to place of safety on or beyond the Blue Ridge. The wagon was overtaken by Union troops near Port Republic and set on fire, which was put out by local citizens. Many order books, deed books, will books, and fiduciary books, however, were lost or severely damaged by the fire. The loose records that remained at the courthouse were undamaged. Pre-1865 records including deeds and wills were rerecorded following an act of assembly passed in November 1884.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Rockingham County under accession number 51717.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
32 cu. ft.