Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Madison 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
- Surveys1792–1888
- Deed Book1793–1904
- Processioners' Returns1796–1800
- Land Warrants1805–1888
- Plat Book1843–1949
- Release Deed Book1882–1938
Wills
- General Index to Wills1793–1983
- Index to Heirs1793–1942
- Will Book1793–1982
Estates and guardianships
- List of Fiduciaries1850–1878
- Clerk's Fiduciary Order Book1904–1982
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriages1793–1949
- Marriage Bonds1793–1853
- Marriage Register1793–1968
- Ministers' Returns1794–1843
- Marriage Certificates and Ministers' Returns1854–1860
- Marriage Licenses1860–1886
- Marriage Consents1866
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1793–1892
- General Index to Chancery Causes1794–1983
- Common Law Order Book1809–1982
- General Index to Common Law Order Book1809–1980
- Chancery Order Book1831–1934
- General Index to Chancery Order Book1831–1914
- General Index to Common Law Causes1926–1983
- General Index to Criminal Causes1980–1983
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1812–1865
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1889–1921
County government and the poor
- School Board Minute Book1917–1934
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1977–1983
Schools
- School Commissioners' Minute Book1818–1847
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reel 29 is 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
- Madison 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: Madison 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, Madison" 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: Culpeper County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Culpeper 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.