Collections

Botetourt County (Va.) Court Records, 1720-1970, consist of Board of Supervisors records, bonds/commissions/oaths, business records, census records, Commissioner of the Revenue records, county court records, circuit court records, circuit superior court of law and chancery records, superior court of law records, election records, fiduciary records, justice of the peace records, land records, marriage records and vital statistics, military and pension records, organization records, road and bridge records, school records, tax and fiscal records, township records, treasurer's records, and wills. Please consult Archives Research Services for details.

Botetourt County Court Records, (Va.), 1838-1845. The collection contains three documents removed from Botetourt County court records: a deposition from the chancery cause, Thompson vs. Campbell, 1838; a letter with the surname Trenis, 1842; and a decree from the court case Campbell vs. Executor of Thompson.

Botetourt County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1820-1833; undated, primarily record the declarations of individuals seeking to obtain Revolutionary War pensions provided by various acts of Congress. The applicants present detailed testimony of their time of service during the Revolutionary War. Information found in the declarations include date and location applicants entered into service, names of military companies they served in, names of military commanders they served under, names of fellow soldiers they served with, length of service, their age, and their place of birth. The predominant portion of the declarations are narratives of their tours of duty during the Revolutionary War with emphasis on battles they fought. The declarations also include affidavits from witnesses who could verify information provided by applicants.

Botetourt County (Va.) Deed, 1819. Documents the sale of 46 acres of land along Craig Creek from Peter and Catharine Wilhelm to Elisha Stone for one thousand dollars.

Deed Book, 1770-1778, of Botetourt County Court. The deed book records the name of the grantor and grantee, the residence of both individuals and the description of property being sold or transferred. The volume has an index which contains the first and last names of both parties. It is arranged alphabetically from A-Z.

Botetourt County (Va.) Deeds of Emancipation, 1790-1802, include three deeds. The deeds typically record the name of the enslaver, the name of the enslaved person or persons to be freed, the date the enslaved person or persons achieved freedom, and the date the manumission was proved or certified. Sometimes, the deeds describe the reason for emancipation or manumission. Deeds of emancipation could be generated after the enslaver's death by those executing a last will and testament.

Botetourt County (Va.) Estate of George B. Skilren or Skillern, account of John Cartmill for boarding slaves, 1837 Nov 8, is an account of services rendered for the board, clothing, medical, and burial expenses incurred for various slaves who are named in the bill. John Moore, sheriff of Botetourt, was the administrator of the estate.

Botetourt County (Va.) Estray Records, 1783-1903, contains loose and bound records giving public notice of valuable, tame animals, either lost or found wandering and presumed escaped from their owners, allowing the owners to reclaim the animals. Enteries generally indicate by whom the animal was taken up, before what justice the person went and when, and the description and appraisement (value) of the animal.

Botetourt County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1890-1960, include miscellaneous records filed in a local court by trustees, administrators, executors, guardians, and committees that related to the performance of their duties managing a person's estate. These records typically include the following; bonds, appraisements, audits, inventories, accounts, estate divisions, settlements, dowery records, etc. Information related to enslaved people are commonly found in these records.

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.