Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. Records were lost in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and more burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been sent for safekeeping. A few pre–Civil War 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 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 Elizabeth 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, Etc1684–1699
- Records [Deeds, Wills, Inventories, Orders1684–1699
- Deeds, Wills, Inventories1715–1721
- Record Book1721–1723
- Deeds, Wills1723–1730
- Deeds, Wills, Bonds, Etc1737–1756
- Deeds and Wills1758–1807
- General Index to Deeds, Wills, Etc1758–1899
- Surveys1761–1883
- Deeds [& Wills]1787–1800
- Deeds1805–1855
- Re-Recorded Deeds1834–1859
Wills
- Will of Thomas Eaton1659
- Wills, Etc1701–1904
- [Loose] Wills1701–1859
- Will Book1886–1916
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Accounts1737–1843
- Fiduciary Order Book1911–1917
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriages1865–1944
- Register of Marriages1865–1908
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1731–1838
- Minute Book1756–1861
- [Minutes] Court Records1760–1769
- Orders1808–1831
- Executions1814–1837
- Office Judgments1832–1847
- Process Book1837–1866
- General Index to Judgments1865–1966
- Chancery Order Book1874–1901
- Common Law Order Book1877–1905
- Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1896–1929
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
- Find Elizabeth City County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the circuit court clerk's office.
- 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: Elizabeth 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, Elizabeth 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
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1634 (original shire) Now extinct, incorporated into the City of Hampton in 1952, 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.