Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Many loose papers before 1783 are missing. Deed, will and order books 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 Mecklenburg 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
- Deed Book1765–1905
- General Index to Deeds1765–1971
- Processioners' Reports1845–1872
- Surveyors' Book1857–1875
- Release Deeds1884–1916
- Trust Deeds1906–1911
Wills
- General Index to Wills, and Lists of Heirs, Decedents1765–1948
- List of Testators1765–1850
- Will Book1765–1922
Estates and guardianships
- List of Wards1764–1849
- Fiduciary Book1765–1850
- Guardians' Bonds Book1765–1850
- Guardians' Accounts1766–1865
- Guardians' Book1807–1879
- List of Fiduciaries1830–1947
Marriages, births and deaths
- List of Marriage Bonds1765–1810
- Marriage Bonds1770–1847
- Marriage Licenses, Certificates1782–1855
- Index to Ministers' Returns and Marriage Licenses1785–1842
- Ministers' Returns and Marriage Licenses1785–1842
- Marriage Licenses1828–1912
- Marriage Bonds, Consent Papers1848–1850
- List of Marriage Licenses1850–1914
- Marriage Licenses, Consent Papers1850–1853
- Consent Papers1853–1854
- General Index to Marriages1854–1929
- Marriage Licenses, Marriage Certificates1854–1859
- Certificates for Marriage Licenses1855–1888
- Marriage Certificates, Consent Papers1859–1865
- and 1 more series in the full listing
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1765–1904
- Index to Old Orders of Interest1767–1837
- Index to Order Book1771–1773
- Quarterly Court Rules1796–1803
- Rule Book1809–1831
- Chancery Order Book1831–1911
- Common Law Order Book1831–1920
- Transcript of Selected Court Cases1837–1850
- Chancery Decrees1843–1844
- Record of Judgement Liens1866–1922
- Record of Judgment Liens1866–1922
- Index to Ended Chancery Causes1867–1953
- Monies Deposited by Order of Court1891–1940
- Clerks' Order Book1921–1941
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1809–1865
Elections
- List of Colored Voters at Pearsons Store Precinct in Palmers Spring Magisterial District1892–1900
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
- Mecklenburg 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: Mecklenburg 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, Mecklenburg" 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: Lunenburg County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Lunenburg County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1764, 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.