Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Many 19th-century loose papers, such as chancery suits and judgments, are missing. Most deed, will and order books survive because the clerk removed them during the Civil War.
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 Middlesex 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
- General Index to Deeds1675–1955
- Deeds Etc1679–1750
- Deed Book1694–1901
- Deeds [3]1703–1720
- General Index to Plats and Surveys1735–1958
- Surveys1735–1847
- FOR DEEDS1736–1739
- For Deeds1785–1791
- Processioners' Returns1826–1838
- County Surveys1827–1946
- Plat Book1830–1861
- FOR PROCESSIONERS' RETURNS1837–1850
- Conveyance Book1881–1902
- Oyster Plat Book1892–1933
Wills
- FOR WILLS1673–1795
- General Index to Decedents, Devisees1675–1935
- General Index to Wills1675–1950
- Wills, Etc1675–1698
- Will Book1698–1906
- Wills1698–1793
- Will, Etc1795–1798
- Common Law Will Book1841–1890
Estates and guardianships
- Orphans' Book1760–1831
- Administrators' Bonds1767–1810
- Guardians' Bonds1767–1850
- Executors' Bond Book1811–1849
- Guardians' Account Book1820–1831
- Guardians' Bond Book1820–1836
- Administrators' Bond Book1821–1850
- Guardians' Accounts1825–1857
- Fiduciary Bond Book1834–1875
- Administrators'1837–1855
- List of Fiduciaries1850–1888
- Fiduciary Order Book1907–1955
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index of Marriage Register1740–1854
- Marriage Bonds1740–1852
- Marriage Register1740–1980
- Reports of Marriages1760–1825
- Extract from Marriage Register, Christ Church Parish1785–1786
- FOR MARRIAGE RETURNS1785–1826
- Ministers' Returns1785–1854
- Marriage Returns1787–1854
- Register of Births1853–1896
- Register of Deaths1853–1896
- General Index to Marriages1854–1934
- General Index to Marriages, A-Z, Males and Females1854–1934
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1673–1904
- Orders1721–1841
- Orders, Etc1789–1794
- Execution Book1799–1824
- General Index to Chancery Names1799–1937
- Minute Book1799–1891
- Rule Book1799–1817
- Form Book1807
- Chancery Order Book1831–1926
- Common Law Execution Book1831–1845
- Common Law Order Book1831–1980
- Chancery Minute Book1832–1859
- Fee Book1832–1847
- William C. Conrad's1849–1851
- and 4 more series in the full listing
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1800–1862
- Free Negro Register1827–1862
Military and pensions
- Census of Revolutionary Soldiers Pensioners1840
- Militia Roster1861–1865
- Muster Roll1861–1865
- Muster Roll for World War1917–1918
- Soldiers' Discharge Records1919–1945
- Minutes of Civilian Defense Council1941–1945
- "State Summary of War Casualties, Virginia, U.S. Navy"1946
- "World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing from the State of Virginia1946
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1847–1949
- Officials' Bonds1904–1916
County government and the poor
- Sheriff's Receipt Book1820–1821
- Sheriff's Book1829
- Board of Supervisors' Order Book1870–1906
- Board of Supervisors' Account Book1871–1943
- County Treasurer's Report1911–1919
Schools
- Proceedings of School Commissioners1818–1858
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
- Middlesex 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: Middlesex 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, Middlesex" 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: Lancaster County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Lancaster County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1669, 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.