Collections : [Library of Virginia]

Westmoreland County (Va.) Bonds/Commissions/Oaths, 1700s-1956, consist of Bond Books, a Commissioners' Account Book and unprocessed officials' bonds, and resignations and appointments.

Westmoreland County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1753-1958, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.

Westmoreland County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1854-1916, consist of 1 box of Executions Returned, 2 Execution Books, 2 Orders at Law Books, 1 Orders of Court and Miscellaneous Court Notes Book and 1 Memorandum Book.

Westmoreland County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1802-1939, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings, train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the deceased was African American, the inquest would identify the deceased as a slave or free person if known. If the deceased was a slave, the inquest would include, if known, the name of the slaveowner and the slaveowner's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased. Slaves were deponents in coroner investigations.

Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Westmoreland County (Va.) Election Records, 1902-1954 consist of individual items; and volumes of General Registration, List of Voters, and Rolls of Registered Voters.

Westmoreland County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1700-1959, consist of 13 boxes of Inventories and Accounts, 1 box of mixed Fiduciary (Executors', Administrators', Committee and Guardians' bonds) and Bonds/Commissions/Oaths ( Officials' Bonds), 3 boxes of Executors', Administrators' and Guardians' Bonds, 2 boxes of Estate Sales, 2 Record Center boxes of Administrators' Bonds, 1 vol. of Administrators' and Executors' Bonds, 2 vols. of Records of Fiduciaries, 2 vols. of Guardians' Bonds and 1 box of UNPROCESSED Fiduciary Records (1786-1900s).

Westmoreland County (Va.) General Voter Registration Book, 1902-1903, records the roll of registered voters in Westmoreland County. The volume is divided by precincts: Baynesville, Colonial Beach, Hague, Kinsale, Montross, Oldhams, Oak Grove, and Warrensville; and within each precinct on the basis of color. Information found in the volumes includes date of registration; number of registered voter; name of registered voter; date of birth; age; occupation; residence; length of residence in state, county, and precinct; whether exempt from poll tax; if naturalized, and if so, date of papers and by what court issued; if transferred from another precinct, and if so, when and to what precinct.

Westmoreland County (Va) Judgment John Norwood versus Administrator of Elizabeth Brinnon, 1808 Oct., was a civil suit in which the plaintiff sued for money owed by the defendant for providing Brinnon's servants and slaves meat, drink, washing, lodging, and board over a period of twenty years. The suit includes exhibits that record the names of slaves, year of birth, year of death, and family relationships.

Westmoreland County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1810-1858, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.