Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Bath 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 Book1791–1901
- General Index to Deeds1791–1903
- Surveyors' Entry Book1791–1953
- Surveyors' Record1791–1897
- Agricultural Chattel Deed of Trust Book1946–1965
Wills
- General Index to Wills [Books 1-8]1791–1935
- Will Book1791–1974
- Wills, Deeds, Etc1809–1871
- Index to Devisees and Lists of Heirs1909–1982
Estates and guardianships
- Executors' Bonds1793–1861
- Administrators' Bonds1808–1871
- Record of Fiduciaries1856–1935
- Bond Book1860–1922
- Estate Inventories and Appraisements1894–1915
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1791–1860
- Ministers' Returns, Marriage Consents and Certificates of Marriage1791–1881
- Marriage Licenses1853–1904
- Marriage Register1853–1906
- Register of Births1853–1870
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
Court orders and minutes
- Minute Book1791–1806
- Order Book1791–1904
- Chancery Minute Book1831–1874
- Chancery Order Book1831–1902
- Common Law Minute Book1831–1841
- Law Order Book1831–1925
- Common Law Order Book1842–1875
- Record of Declaration of Intention, United States Department of Labor, Naturalization Service1909–1929
- Petition for Citizenship and Record, United States Department of Labor, Naturalization Service1914–1927
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro Register1794–1841
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll, World War1917–1918
Bonds and oaths
- Oaths of Allegiance of 600 Rebels of Bath County1866
- Officials' Bond Book1871–1934
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1895–1927
County government and the poor
- Overseer of the Poor Records1817–1852
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1870–1901
- County Finance Board Minutes1932–1953
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
- Bath 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: Bath 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, Bath" 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: Augusta County, Botetourt County, Greenbrier County (W.Va.)
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Augusta County, Botetourt County
Later formed partly from Bath County: Alleghany County, Highland County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1790, 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.