Collections : [Library of Virginia]

Rockbridge County (Va.) Register of Convicts, 1871-1916, is a "descriptive list of persons convicted of felony and other infamous offences in the county." Based on a form, the listings of each conviction include the individual's name in full and any aliases, the present and last known residence of the accused, the color or race of the individual (including white, black, dark brown, yellow and mulatto), the individual's height, eye color, hair color and any identifying marks, where the individual was born, the apparent or known age of the accused, his or her occupation, the offence, the court in which convicted, the date of conviction, the order book and page number and whether the judgment was reversed or pardon granted and date. There were no convictions listed for 1876 or 1888.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1805-1831, lists the age, name, color, stature, marks or scars in what court the person was emancipated or whether the person was born free. Some clerks recorded additional information not required by law. If a free person was emancipated, the name of the emancipator is given and in what county and court this took place. If a person was born free, occasionally the mother's name is given. There is no index.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Will of Hobson Johns was probated on 1 June 1863. In his will, Johns leaves his property in Danville, Va., to his wife's niece Mary Louisa Yancy. To his niece Emma Clark Burroughs, Johns left his female slave Lydia on the condition that she pay Lydia six dollars at the commencement of every year as a reward for her attention to his wife during her last illness. To his nephew Hobson Clark, Johns left a tract of land located in Botetourt County and the following slaves: Daniel and his wife Lucy, Sam and his wife Parthenia, and Nelly. The balance of the estate was divided between Johns's nieces -- Nancy Haden, Mary B. Pannill, Martha Clark, and Susan Clark. Johns also left the provision that if any slaves need be sold that the slaves would have the right to select their new master.