Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. Union troops ransacked the courthouse in May 1864, destroying most loose papers, deed books before 1836 and will books before 1853. The order books survive almost complete.
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 Caroline 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
- Surveys1729–1762
- Deeds1758–1889
- Deed Book1809–1900
- Index to Deeds1836–1872
- Processioners' Returns1846–1865
- Release Deeds1885–1925
- Agricultural Chattel Deed of Trust Book1946–1965
- Plat Book1970–1973
Wills
- Index of Wills, Inventories and Administrations from Caroline County Order Book1732–1800
- Wills1742–1897
- General Index to Wills1814–1982
- Will Book1814–1915
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Bonds1806–1858
- General Index to Fiduciary Book1870–1925
- Fiduciary Accounts1965–1966
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index of Marriage Register1786–1853
- Marriage Records1786–1932
- Marriage Register1786–1965
- Marriage Bonds1795–1835
- Ministers' Returns1796–1852
- Marriage Bonds, Certificates1819–1860
- General Index to Marriages1864–1983
- Register of Births1864–1867
- Register of Deaths1865–1867
- Register of Children of Colored Persons Whose Parents Have Ceased To Cohabitate1866
- Register of Colored Persons Cohabitating Together As Husband1866
Tax lists
- Debtor Index to Financing Statements1966–1983
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1732–1899
- Minute Book1770–1866
- Appeals and Land Causes1777–1807
- Rule Book1792–1796
- Execution Book1797–1798
- Common Law Order Book1831–1983
- Chancery Order Book1876–1904
- Clerks' Order Book1904–1983
- Commonwealth v. Richard Perry Loving1958–1966
Military and pensions
- Proceedings of the Committee of Safety1774–1776
- Induction and Discharge Record1918–1972
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1938–1980
County government and the poor
- Board of the Overseers of the Poor Minutes1845–1871
- Overseers of the Poor Records1886–1930
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1887–1963
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
- Caroline 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: Caroline 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, Caroline" 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: Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1728, 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.