Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Frederick 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
- Surveys1736–1878
- Deed Book1743–1901
- General Index to Deeds1743–1924
- Land Record Book1793–1825
- Superior Court Deed Book1793–1826
- Land Records1808–1820
- Surveyors' Book1889–1938
Wills
- General Index to Wills1743–1917
- Will Book1743–1898
- Superior Court Will Book1790–1859
Estates and guardianships
- Administrators' Bonds1762–1914
- Executors'1771–1914
- Guardians' Bonds1792–1900
- Executors' Bonds1824–1865
- Guardians' Bond Book1847–1867
- Record of Fiduciaries1847–1920
- Fiduciary Bond Book1850–1871
- General Receivers' Reports1869–1903
- Guardians' Bonds Book1870–1923
- General Receivers' Bonds1871–1910
- Register of Fiduciaries1881–1884
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1773–1850
- Marriage Register1773–1907
- Register of Births1853–1912
- Register of Deaths1853–1917
- Ministers' Returns1854–1857
- Marriage Licenses1867–1904
Tax lists
- Ordinary Bonds1795–1850
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1743–1904
- Chancery Causes1745–1859
- Land Book1758–1832
- [Superior Court of Chancery] Records1784–1825
- Superior Court Order Book1789–1809
- FOR ORDERS1801–1804
- Minutes1801–1841
- Chancery Order Book1812–1902
- General Index to Chancery Order Book1812–1838
- Varied Superior Court Chancery Causes1812–1817
- Execution Book1843–1852
- Common Law Order Book1853–1913
- NO ORDERS OR MINUTES FOR1856–1866
- Minute Book1862–1865
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Military and pensions
- Militia Records1796–1821
- Muster Roll1861–1865
- World War I Memorial Record Book1917–1918
Bonds and oaths
- Constables' Bonds1816–1843
- Oaths of Allegiance1865
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1870–1976
- Bond Book1871–1916
- Officials' Bond Book1899–1976
County government and the poor
- Minutes of the Local Board of Review1890–1922
- Minutes of the Board of Equalization1925
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
- Frederick 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: Frederick 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, Frederick" 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: Orange County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Orange County
Later formed partly from Frederick County: Clarke County, Shenandoah County, Warren County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1738 (government established 1743), 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.