Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. A fire on 1 February 1892 destroyed every county record except the land tax books.
Before you give up, try these:
- The Library of Virginia's Lost Records Localities Digital Collection: copies of deeds, wills and other records from this place that turned up as evidence in other courts' files.
- Land tax and personal property tax books, which begin in 1782. Copies went to the state, so they often survived when the courthouse records didn't.
- The records of the parent counties and neighboring counties, where families often bought land, went to court or married.
- Chancery suits, church records, newspapers, Bible records and military pension files. See Burned Counties.
Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Appomattox 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 Book1892–1904
- General Index to Deed Book1892–1916
- Agricultural Chattel Deed of Trust Book1946–1965
Wills
- General Index to Wills1892–1966
- Will Book1892–1933
- General Index to Heirs and Devisees1966–1985
- General Index to Wills and Fiduciaries1966–1985
Estates and guardianships
- Fiduciary Book1892–1932
- Clerk's Fiduciary Order Book1904–1960
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriage Register1892–1985
- Marriage Licenses and Consents1892–1901
- Marriage Register1892–1985
Court orders and minutes
- Law Order Book1891–1913
- Chancery Order Book1892–1912
- Minute Book1892–1916
- Charter Book1980–1985
- Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1982–1985
Military and pensions
- Roster of Appomattox Units in Confederate Services1861–1865
- Induction and Discharge Register1917–1918
- Record of World War Veterans1918–1951
County government and the poor
- Local Board of Review of Assessments1915–1930
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
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
- Appomattox 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: Appomattox 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, Appomattox" 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: Buckingham County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Prince Edward County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Buckingham County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Prince Edward County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1845, 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.