Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Giles 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
- Land Entry Book1804–1853
- Survey Book1805–1926
- Deed Book1806–1901
- Surveys1807–1845
- Caveat Record Book1809–1838
- Surveyors' Book1846–1926
- Plat Book1887–1947
- Release Deed Book1887–1930
- General Index to Deeds1941–1976
- Subdivision Plat Book1947–1976
Wills
- General Index to Wills1806–1953
- Index to Wills1806–1976
- Will Book1806–1924
- Circuit Court Will Book1856–1902
Estates and guardianships
- Index to Wills1806–1976
- Guardians' Reports1820–1853
- Fiduciary Bond Book1865–1875
- Fiduciary Settlements Book1892–1925
- Receivers' Settlement Book1896–1945
- Clerks' Fiduciary Order Book1953–1967
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Register of Births, Marriages1806–1896
- Marriage Bonds1806–1853
- Register of Marriages1806–1943
- Marriage Consents1849
- Marriage Licenses1852
- Register of Births1855–1896
- Register of Deaths1855–1896
- Register of Births and Deaths1860
- Marriage Certificates, Consents and Licenses1863–1906
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1806–1976
- Chancery Order Book1831–1918
- Index to Chancery Files1880–1919
- Common Law Order Book1893–1911
- Judgment Lien Docket1954–1962
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro and Slave Records1816–1864
- Free Negro Affidavits1850
Military and pensions
- Militia Rolls and Fines1834–1836
- Military Pensions1835–1837
- Militia Return1839
- List of Soldiers' Families in Districts1864–1865
- Records of State Pensioners, A List of Confederate Soldiers1888–1903
- Armed Forces Discharge Record Book1958–1970
Bonds and oaths
- FOR BONDS1806–1833
- Bonds [Sheriffs, Constables, Commissioners]1833–1865
- Bond Book1879–1921
Elections
- Election Board Minute Book1899–1912
County government and the poor
- School Board Minute Book1870–1886
- Road Board Minute Book1904–1925
- School Trustee Oath Book1904–1915
- Local Board of Review Minute Book1915–1921
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 Giles 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: Giles 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, Giles" 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: Monroe County (W.Va.), Montgomery County, Tazewell County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Montgomery County, Tazewell County
Later formed partly from Giles County: Bland County, Craig County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1806, 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.