Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. Records were lost several times, worst of all in the Civil War, when they were scattered through the woods in a rainstorm. A few pre–Civil War deed, will, minute 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 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 Charles City 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
- Deeds, Wills, Orders Etc1655–1665
- Deeds1689–1774
- Deeds, Wills, Etc1693–1694
- Deeds and Wills1725–1731
- Deed Book1789–1903
- General Index to Deeds, Grantee1789–1913
- General Index to Deeds, Grantor1789–1913
- General Index to Deeds1790–1911
- Processioners' Book1880–1946
Wills
- General Index to Wills1789–1954
- Will Book1789–1923
Estates and guardianships
- Fiduciary Register1870–1943
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Register1850–1931
- Index to Marriage Register1861–1931
- Marriage Licenses and Consents1862–1887
- Register of Births1865–1896
- Register of Deaths1865–1896
- Marriage Licenses1897–1904
Court orders and minutes
- Orders1650–1762
- Order Book1677–1904
- Record Book1692–1700
- Minutes1762–1789
- Minute Book1823–1879
- Index to Ended Civil Causes1845–1968
- Index to Ended Chancery Causes1846–1971
- Common Law Minute Book1848–1868
- Chancery Order Book1865–1928
- Common Law Order Book1865–1918
- Judgment Lien Docket1878–1916
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes1835–1864
- List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes Over Twelve Years of Age1859
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1861–1865
- County Pension Board Record Book1900–1930
- Muster Roll. WWI1916–1918
- Induction and Discharge Records1918–1960
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1902–1920
County government and the poor
- Election Board Minute Book1906–1924
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
- Charles City 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: Charles City 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, Charles City" 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: One of the original eight shires of 1634
Later formed partly from Charles City County: Prince George County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1634 (original shire), 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.