Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Henry 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
- Index to Maps and Roads1770–1990
- Deed Book1777–1904
- General Index to Deeds1777–1949
- Loose Deeds1777–1799
- Surveyors' Book1778–1941
- Loose Processioners' Reports1807–1813
- Bill of Sale of Slave1838
- Plat Book1853–1950
- Sale of School Lots1877
- Trust Deed Book1897–1902
Wills
- General Index to Wills1777–1949
- Will Book1777–1913
Estates and guardianships
- Loose Estate Inventory1780
- Fiduciary Record Book1872–1922
- Fiduciary Order Book1904–1947
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriage Register1778–1849
- Marriage Bond Book1778–1859
- Marriage Bonds and Consents1778–1851
- Marriage Register1778–1849
- Ministers' Returns and Marriage Bonds1782–1849
- Marriage Bonds1814
- Ministers' Returns1848–1853
- Register of Marriage Licenses1850–1864
- General Index to Marriages1853–1949
- Index to Register of Births1853–1874
- Index to Register of Deaths1853–1875
- Loose Record of Births and Deaths in Henry County Families1853
- Marriage Certificates1853–1855
- Register of Births1853–1877
- and 7 more series in the full listing
Tax lists
- Slave Patrol Claim1796
- Records of Supplies for Confederate Soldiers1861
- Loose County Levies1863–1864
- Soldiers' Fund Records1863–1864
- Loose Bank Tax Record1914
Court orders and minutes
- General Index to [Orders and Minutes] Ended Law and Chancery, County Court1777–1904
- Index to Criminal Orders, County Court1777–1904
- Order Book1777–1904
- Loose Criminal Records1783–1797
- Loose Newspaper1797–1811
- Loose Judgments1799–1864
- Minute Book1804–1877
- Chancery Order Book1831–1933
- Common Law Order Book1831–1925
- Court Docket1860–1864
- Loose Criminal Record1863–1902
- Loose Court Finance Record1883
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- List of Free Negroes1842–1860
- Hire of Black Slave1855
- Register of Free Negroes1859
- Slaves Requisitioned for Public Use1862–1865
Military and pensions
- Loose Military Discharge1778
- Pensions1819
- Militia Lists1853–1854
- Muster Fines1861
- Exemption Board Records1862–1863
Bonds and oaths
- Loose Orphan's Indenture1798
- Loose Bonds1802–1845
- County Court Bond Book1850–1892
- Loose Sheriffs' Appointments1851–1857
- Loose Justice of the Peace Appointments1852–1867
- Loose Oath of Allegiance1867
- Commissioners' Bond Book1902–1947
- Loose Oaths of County Officers1902–1914
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1939–1947
Elections
- Records Regarding Railroad Subscription1859
- Civil War Election Record1863
County government and the poor
- Overseers of the Poor Reports1851–1862
Roads
- Loose Road and Bridge Record1842
Schools
- School Commissioners' Reports1837–1862
- Loose School Insurance Policy1910
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
- Henry 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: Henry 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, Henry" 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: Pittsylvania County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Pittsylvania County
Later formed partly from Henry County: Franklin County, Patrick County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1776, 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.