Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. A courthouse fire on 15 December 1970 left many loose records, including pre-1830 chancery and pre-1854 judgments, badly water damaged. The near loss led to Virginia's Public Records Act of 1975. Deed, will and order books survive.
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 county 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 Botetourt 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 Book1770–1901
- General Index to Deeds1770–1889
- Surveyors' Record Book1774–1914
- Superior Court of Law Deed Book1810–1813
- Grantee Index to Deeds1890–1972
- Grantor Index to Deeds1890–1972
Wills
- General Index to Wills1770–1952
- Will Book1770–1904
- Wills1770–1875
- General Index to Wills and Fiduciaries1953–1972
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Accounts1799–1839
- Audits, Appraisements, Inventories, and Accounts of Sales1842–1901
- Record of Fiduciaries1870–1946
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriage Register1770–1853
- Marriage Bonds1770–1850
- Marriage Register1770–1913
- Fincastle County Marriage Bonds1773–1775
- Ministers' Returns1782–1854
- Marriage Bonds and Licenses1840–1867
- Register of Births1853–1870
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
- Marriage Licenses1867–1924
Tax lists
- Tithables1770–1789
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1770–1867
- Plea Book1807–1844
- Common Law Orders1809–1930
- Ended Chancery Cases1812–1867
- Minute Book1817–1819
- Chancery Order Book1831–1852
- Defendant Index to Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1843–1922
- Judgment Docket1843–1903
- Chancery Orders1846–1901
- Plaintiff Index to Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1854–1888
- Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1856–1948
Military and pensions
- Minutes of the Provisional Committee1861–1865
- Minute Book1862–1863
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1850–1903
- Circuit Court Bond Book1853–1910
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
- Botetourt 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: Botetourt 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, Botetourt" 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
Check the parent county for earlier records: Augusta County
Later formed partly from Botetourt County: Alleghany County, Bath County, Craig County, Fincastle County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1770, 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.