Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Goochland 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 Etc1728–1734
- Deed Book1734–1901
- Plats1785–1932
- Processioners' Returns1795–1820
- General Index to Deeds1839–1969
- Plat Book1901–1974
Estates and guardianships
- Fiduciary Records1728–1899
- Guardians' Accounts1794–1822
- Executors' Account Book1834–1848
- Fiduciary Bond Book1850–1929
- Fiduciary Account Book1858–1882
- Fiduciary Register1859–1907
- Fiduciary Accounts1881–1965
- Clerks' Fiduciary Order Book1904–1925
- Clerk's Fiduciary Order Book1935–1936
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriage Register1730–1853
- Marriage Bonds1730–1850
- Marriage Register1730–1901
- Marriage Bonds and Consents1781–1799
- Ministers' Returns1782–1850
- Register of Births1853–1877
- Index to Marriages1862–1899
- Register of Colored Persons Cohabiting1866
Tax lists
- Tithables1730–1780
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1728–1903
- Various Loose Court Records1728–1898
- Minutes1779–1818
- General Index to Ended Chancery Causes1800–1974
- Complete Records1805–1817
- General Index to Ended Causes1830–1904
- Record Book1836–1844
- Record Order Book1844–1852
- Common Law Order Book1863–1948
- Chancery Order Book1871–1916
- Clerk's Order Book1955–1974
- General Index to Criminal Cases1968–1974
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1804–1864
- Loose Records1813–1814
Military and pensions
- Pension Board Record Book1900–1902
- WWI Muster Roll1917–1918
Bonds and oaths
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1901–1904
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1907–1921
- Local Board of Review Minute Book1915
- Finance Board Minute Book1932–1965
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
- Goochland 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: Goochland 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, Goochland" 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
Later formed partly from Goochland County: Albemarle County, Cumberland County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1728, 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.