Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Deed Book 1 (1838–1841) was lost in the Civil War, and some volumes were water damaged in a 1979 courthouse fire.
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 Greene 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
- Deed Book1837–1900
Wills
- General Index to Wills1829–1979
- Will Book1838–1891
- Wills1839–1953
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriage Register1838–1944
- Marriage Bonds, Consents and Ministers' Returns1838–1865
- Marriage Register1838–1944
- General Index to Register of Births1853–1919
- General Index to Register of Marriages1853–1893
- Register of Births1853–1919
- Register of Deaths1853–1917
- Marriage Licenses1866–1903
Court orders and minutes
- General Index to Court Orders1838–1960
- Index to Judgments and Deeds1838–1903
- Index to Judgments1840–1936
- General Index to Chancery Orders1841–1961
- Order Book1841–1906
- Record Book1841–1881
- Minute Book1842–1864
- Index to Ended Chancery Causes1844–1938
- Judgment Lien Docket1844–1919
- Memorandum Book1855–1919
- Rule Docket Book1855–1861
- Chancery Order Book1871–1930
- List of Causes Taken Out of Clerk's Office1871–1925
- Docket Book1875–1923
- and 8 more series in the full listing
Military and pensions
- Pension Record1900–1940
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1866–1915
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
- Greene 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: Greene 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, Greene" 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
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1838, 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.