Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. James City and Williamsburg shared a courthouse from 1770. Both localities' records were sent to Richmond in the Civil War and burned there 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 James City 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
- Grantor-Grantee Index to Deeds1852–1914
- Deed Book1854–1901
- Oyster Book1884–1937
- Release Deed Book1885–1920
- Processioners' Book1890–1904
- Plat Book1898–1930
Wills
- General Index to Wills1865–1987
- Will Book1865–1930
Marriages, births and deaths
- Death Register1864–1884
- Register of Births1865–1878
- Register of Marriages1865–1920
Tax lists
- Williamsburg-James City County Tax Book1768–1769
- Table of Town Lots1865
- Tracts of Land Record1866
Court orders and minutes
- Chancery Order Book1865–1906
- Order Book1865–1879
- Judgment Lien Docket Book1866–1907
Census
- County Census Record1880
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors Minutes1887–1983
- Electoral Board Minutes1927–1979
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
- James City 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: James City 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, James City" 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 James City County: Surry 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.