Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. A fire in 1820 destroyed all the records, and most of those created afterward burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been sent for safekeeping.
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 county 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 Gloucester 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
- Surveyor's Book1733–1937
- Surveyors' Plat Book1849–1937
- Deed Book1862–1901
- General Index to Deeds and Wills1862–1977
- Release Deed Book1886–1919
- General Index to Surveyors' Plat Book1890–1937
- Oyster Plat Book1892–1961
- Record of Transfer of Oyster Planting1905–1923
- Plat Book1976–1977
Wills
- Will Book1862–1920
Estates and guardianships
- Estate Papers of Captain Henry Chapman1847–1872
- Guardians' Account Book1851–1890
- Commissioners' Fiduciary Account Book1861–1885
- General Index to Fiduciary Accounts1861–1897
- Inventories, Appraisements, and Administration Accounts1861–1912
- Record of Fiduciaries1864–1885
- Executor's Account Book1868–1869
- Fiduciary Bond Book1872–1909
- Estate Inventory1888–1920
- Fiduciary Settlement Book1911–1919
- Fiduciary Order Book1970–1977
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriage Registers1853–1977
- Marriage Register1853–1977
- Birth Register1865–1890
- Death Register1865–1890
Tax lists
- Tax Accounts1770–1771
- Land Tax Book1862–1900
Court orders and minutes
- Minute Book1820–1867
- Clerks' Process Book1831–1895
- Rule Book1831–1881
- Docket Book1837–1866
- Clerks' Memorandum Book1839–1869
- Execution Book1853–1869
- Grand Jury Book1853–1875
- Clerks' Account Book1854–1880
- Judgment1857–1867
- Clerk's Memorandum Book1860
- Clerks' Fee Book1860–1866
- Clerks' Receipt Book1860–1891
- Chancery Order Book1865–1904
- Common Law Order Book1865–1977
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Military and pensions
- Account Book1854–1860
- Cash Book1856–1859
- WWI Register1917–1919
- Induction and Discharge Register1946–1976
Bonds and oaths
- Officials' Bond Book1872–1877
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1875–1928
County government and the poor
- Charity School Record of Debts Due1826–1856
- Charity School Minute Book1840–1922
- Charity School Account Book1847–1884
- Road Tax Book1886
- Board of Supervisors' Account Book1890–1925
- Road Commissioner's Book1908
- Local Board of Review Minute Book1915–1926
Schools
- Public School Register1886–1891
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
- Gloucester 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: Gloucester 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, Gloucester" 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: York County
Check the parent county for earlier records: York County
Later formed partly from Gloucester County: Mathews County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1651, 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.