Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Alleghany County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- Deed Book1822–1954
- General Index to Deeds1822–1889
- Grantee Index to Deeds1822–1972
- Grantor Index to Deeds1822–1980
- Surveyors' Book1822–1946
- Surveyors' Entry Book1829–1901
- Sale of Lots [Covington]1830–1903
- Deeds1833–1879
- Daily Index to Receipt of Deeds1894–1897
Wills
- General Index to Wills1822–1953
- Wills and Inventories1822–1876
- Will Book1832–1868
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Bonds1825–1871
- Settlements of Estates1831–1930
- Fiduciary Bonds1832–1868
- Bills of Sale and Appraisements1844–1870
- Record of Fiduciaries1850–1945
- Inventories and Appraisements1870–1876
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Register1822–1916
- Register of Births1833–1871
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
- Birth Records1867–1878
- Register of Marriage Licenses1871–1875
Tax lists
- Liquor License Applications and Petitions1880–1905
- Liquor License Applications1896–1905
- Delinquent Real Estate Book1903–1906
Court orders and minutes
- Ended Chancery Causes1738–1946
- Common Law Process Book1777–1901
- Form Book1797
- Execution Book1809–1903
- Judgment Docket1809
- Rule Book1811–1822
- Chancery Order Book1822–1954
- Common Law Order Book1822–1924
- General Index to Minute Book1822–1904
- Judgments1822–1882
- Order Book1822–1873
- Chancery Docket1831–1890
- Chancery Minute Book1831–1852
- Chancery Process Book1831–1942
- and 21 more series in the full listing
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes1855–1856
Military and pensions
- World War Memorial Records1933–1958
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1825–1905
- General Index to Bond Book1825–1905
- Sheriffs' Bond Book1825–1858
- Miscellaneous Bonds1831–1907
Elections
- Election Returns1865–1866
- Special Election Papers1896
- General Voter Registration1902–1903
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors' Order Book1870–1892
- Board of Supervisors' Records1870–1919
- Superintendent of the Poor and Poor Farm Records1870–1935
- Bridge Construction1875–1920
- Bridge and Road Construction1875–1920
- Road Bids1875–1920
- Road Reports and State Highway Commissioner Road Reports1875–1920
- Board of Supervisors' Docket1902
Schools
- School Records1883–1977
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reels 17-87 and 101-383 are not available through interlibrary loan
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Alleghany County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Alleghany County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Alleghany" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Bath County, Botetourt County, Monroe County (W.Va.)
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Bath County, Botetourt County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1822, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.