Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Chesterfield 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 Book1749–1975
- General Index to Deeds1749–1967
- Plat Book1801–1927
- Deed and Will Book1809–1857
- Index to Subdivision Plats1879–1975
- Release Deed Book1884–1907
Wills
- General Index to Wills1749–1958
- Index to Wills1749–1947
- Will Book1749–1967
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1770–1854
- Index to Marriage Register1771–1853
- Marriage Register1771–1896
- Marriage Records1772–1854
- Ministers' Returns1780–1860
- Marriage Licenses1855–1912
Tax lists
- Tithables1747–1821
- Personal Property Tax Lists1812–1827
- Land Book1864–1965
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1749–1904
- Chancery Order Book1831–1967
- Common Law Order Book1831–1908
- Minute Book1857–1863
- Criminal Order Book1974–1975
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1804–1854
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1812
- Index to Military Discharge Records1942–1975
Bonds and oaths
- Commissioner's Bond Book1871–1937
County government and the poor
- Road Book1875–1928
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reels 60-68, 120-329a, and 334-348 are not available through interlibrary loan
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
- Chesterfield 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: Chesterfield 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, Chesterfield" 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: Henrico County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Henrico County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1749, 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.