Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Many loose papers before 1860 were probably lost when Union forces burned the courthouse in October 1863. A local judge had removed most of the deed, will and order books beforehand, so they survive.
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 Lee 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
- List of Land Grants1783–1917
- Deed Book1793–1902
- Entry Book1793–1912
- General Index to Deeds1793–1906
- Surveyors' Record1794–1944
- Surveyors' Book1814–1820
- Land Transfers1877–1890
- Unacknowledged Deed Book1918–1952
Wills
- General Index to Wills1793–1944
- Loose Wills1794–1833
- Will Book1800–1963
- Loose Will1903
Estates and guardianships
- General Index to Fiduciary Settlements1843–1911
- List of Fiduciaries1858–1898
- Fiduciary Settlement Book1860–1915
- Fiduciary Bond Book1895–1945
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1830–1836
- Marriage Record 1-A1850–1854
- Marriage Register1853–1916
- Register of Births1853–1897
- Register of Deaths1853–1877
Tax lists
- Tax Book1815–1816
- Tax Lists1815
- Land Tax Assessment Book1903
- Land Tax Book1914
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1808–1905
- Law Order Book1809–1816
- Law and Chancery Order Book1817–1831
- Common Law Order Book1831–1912
- Chancery Order Book1832–1954
- General Index to Chancery Order Book1832–1939
- Attachment Bond Book1893–1908
- Injunction Bond Book1893–1904
Bonds and oaths
- General Index to Bond Book1838–1900
- Officials' Bond Book1838–1976
- Bond Book1893–1905
- Commissioners' Bond Book1893–1916
County government and the poor
- Overseers of Poor Record Book1838–1889
- Board of Supervisors' Order Book1870–1886
- Treasurer's Account Book1903–1908
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
- Find Lee County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the circuit court clerk's office.
- 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: Lee 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, Lee" 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: Russell County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Russell County
Later formed partly from Lee County: Scott County, Wise County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1792, 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.