Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. County court records before 1655 and nearly all before 1677 are missing, and British troops destroyed more in the Revolution. Records after the Revolution survive, but nearly all circuit court records burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865.
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 counties 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 Henrico 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
- Record Book1677–1697
- Records [Deeds1677–1714
- Deeds, Wills, Etc1688–1767
- Records [Deeds, Wills, Etc.]1697–1782
- FOR DEEDS1719–1746
- Deeds1725–1774
- Deed Book1744–1901
- Deeds, Etc1748–1750
- Processioners' Returns1795–1839
- Index to Plats1805–1975
- Plat Book1805–1928
- Release Deed Book1884–1902
Wills
- FOR INDEX TO WILLS1677–1697
- Will Book1781–1903
Estates and guardianships
- Orphan's Court1677–1739
- Record Book1677–1739
- Guardians' Accounts1813–1903
- Guardians Accounts1845–1851
- Lists of Fiduciaries1850–1916
- Record of Fiduciary Bonds1865–1904
- Trustees' Account Book1897–1898
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriage Bonds1781–1831
- Marriage Bonds1781–1850
- Indexes to Marriage Bonds1800–1830
- Marriage Register1853–1920
- Register of Births1853–1870
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
Tax lists
- Assessors' Book1803–1813
- Land Sold for Taxes1853–1928
Court orders and minutes
- Miscellaneous Court Records [Deeds, Wills, Etc.]1650–1807
- Index to Colonial Records1677–1739
- Order Book1678–1816
- Record Book1678–1699
- Court Orders1707–1769
- Records [Orders]1710–1714
- Court Minute Book1719–1755
- Minute Book1816–1823
- Minute [Order] Book1823–1904
- Chancery Order Book1865–1903
- Common Law Order Book1865–1904
- Index to Judgments found in Common Law Order Book1865–1900
- Register of Convicts1870–1944
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes and Mulattoes1831–1865
County government and the poor
- Overseers of the Poor Minute Book1869–1891
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1870–1905
- Applications to Establish Roads1880–1923
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
- Henrico 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: Henrico 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, Henrico" 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: One of the original eight shires of 1634
Later formed partly from Henrico County: Chesterfield County, Goochland County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1634 (original shire), 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.