Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Nelson 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 Book1808–1902
- General Index to Deeds, Grantees1808–1915
- General Index to Deeds, Grantors1808–1915
- Deed and Caveat Book1811–1860
- Deeds, Etc., [Wills]1811–1831
- FOR DEEDS1816–1847
- General Index to Deed Book1877–1908
- Plat Book1886–1951
- General Index to Deeds1915–1984
Wills
- General Index to Wills1808–1927
- Will Book1808–1931
Estates and guardianships
- Fiduciary Account Book1869–1913
- Officials' Bond Book1975–1984
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Register1808–1985
- Index to Register of Births1853–1872
- Index to Register of Deaths1853–1868
- Register of Births1853–1872
- Register of Deaths1853–1872
- General Index to Marriages1854–1985
- Marriage Licenses and Consents1864–1901
- Register of Marriages of Free Negroes1865–1877
Tax lists
- Land Use Book1977
Court orders and minutes
- Minute Book1808–1868
- Common Law Order Book1809–1910
- Order Book1813–1904
- Record of Appeals1821–1828
- Records Upon Appeal1827–1838
- Chancery Order Book1831–1913
- General Index to Chancery Order Book1875–1936
- General Index to Common Law Order Book1875–1964
- General Index to Ended Chancery Causes1875–1984
- General Index to Ended Law Cases1963–1984
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Register of Free Negroes1853–1865
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1870–1984
- Board of Supervisors' Ordinance Book1941–1983
Schools
- Board of School Commissioners' Record Book1884–1984
- School Census1890–1915
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reels 39, 63 and 79-80 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
- Nelson 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: Nelson 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, Nelson" 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: Amherst County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Amherst County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1807, 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.