Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Lancaster 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, Etc1652–1763
- General Index to Records1652–1881
- Deeds1660–1899
- Record Book1687–1700
- FOR DEEDS1700–1702
- General Index to Deeds1750–1900
- [Deeds] Wills, Etc1750–1758
- Records1763–1767
- Deeds, Wills, Etc1764–1770
- Deed Book1770–1903
- Land Causes1841–1885
- Release Deed Book1887–1922
- Surveyor's Plat Book1888–1889
- Oyster Grounds Plat Book1893–1908
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Wills
- FOR WILLS1652–1770
- General Index to Wills1669–1950
- FOR ONE WILL1671
- Wills, Etc1674–1795
- Wills Etc1690–1783
- Wills1700–1860
- Will Book1795–1949
- General Index to Wills and Fiduciaries1960–1977
Estates and guardianships
- Inventories1650–1799
- Bonds1719–1885
- Guardians' Bonds1720–1819
- Orphans' Account Book1770–1825
- Administrators' Bonds1790–1799
- Estate Book1796–1914
- List of Fiduciaries1850–1910
- Orphans' Accounts1857–1955
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1701–1848
- Index of Marriage Register1715–1852
- Marriage Register1715–1936
- Ministers' Returns1782–1849
- FOR ADDITIONAL MARRIAGES [MINISTER'S RETURNS]1794–1852
- Marriage Licenses1852–1915
- Register of Births1853–1895
- Register of Deaths1853–1885
- Marriage Certificates1854–1864
Tax lists
- Bonds1719–1807
- Tithables1745–1799
- Land Taxes1782–1797
- Personal Property Taxes1782–1797
- Ordinary Bonds1790–1799
- Delinquent Land Tax Lists1791–1892
- Sales of Delinquent Lands for1876–1921
Court orders and minutes
- FOR ORDERS1652–1657
- Orders, Etc1655–1666
- Orders1666–1848
- Judgments1702–1897
- Executions1726–1899
- For Order Book1729–1767
- For Orders1767–1768
- Court Papers1789–1920
- Order Book1789–1904
- Bonds1791–1815
- Appeals1795–1823
- Criminal Papers1807–1898
- Minute Book1808–1811
- Execution Book1809–1831
- and 4 more series in the full listing
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1803–1860
Bonds and oaths
- Bonds1721–1833
- Criminal Trial Bonds1772–1807
Elections
- Polls1752–1887
- Voter Registration Book1890–1971
- Registrar's Loose Papers1947–1971
- List of Registered Voters1956–1964
County government and the poor
- Overseers of the Poor Record Book1851–1871
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reels 154-166, 177-184, 186-190, 197-209, 222, 224-235, 247-261, 275-276, 283-294, 311-312 and 318-320 are not available through interlibrary loan
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
- Lancaster 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: Lancaster 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, Lancaster" 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: Northumberland County, York County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Northumberland County, York County
Later formed partly from Lancaster County: Middlesex County, Rappahannock County (Old)
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1651, 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.