Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Orange 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 Book1734–1902
- General Index to Deeds1734–1944
- Loose Deeds1734–1903
- Inquisitions1735–1739
- Lands Processioned1795–1804
- Processioners' Returns1796
- Deeds1800–1850
- Partly Proven Deeds1800–1878
- Plats1839–1892
Wills
- Index to Wills1734–1947
- Original Wills1735–1903
- Will Book1735–1906
Estates and guardianships
- Vouchers of the Estate of John Daniel1812–1813
- Executors' and Administrators' Bonds1827–1846
- Guardians' Accounts1827–1852
- Vouchers of the Estate of J.B. Grasty1840
Marriages, births and deaths
- FOR BIRTH RECORDS1751–1778
- FOR MARRIAGE RECORDS1756–1778
- Marriage Register1757–1912
- Marriage Bonds and Ministers' Returns1775–1854
- Miscellaneous Marriage Records1784–1873
- General Index to Birth Records1853–1918
- General Index to Death Records1853–1918
- Index to Marriage Registers1854–1938
- Marriage Licenses1854–1911
- Birth Records1866–1895
- Marriage Bonds1912
Tax lists
- Valuing Improvements1733–1736
- Tithables1736–1782
- Ordinary Licenses1738–1809
- Capitation Taxes Paid1903–1911
Court orders and minutes
- Writs and Pleadings1720–1784
- General Index to Orders and Minutes1734–1806
- Order Book1734–1896
- Judgments1735–1916
- Minute Book1764–1867
- Sheriff's Execution Book1794–1800
- Foreign Confessed Judgments1800
- Escape Warrants1802–1832
- Minutes1809–1885
- Loose Chancery Cause1810–1888
- Index to Chancery Causes1831–1989
- Index to Ended Chancery Causes1831–1989
- Loose Judgments1843–1921
- Miscellaneous Circuit Court Papers1850
- and 11 more series in the full listing
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- List of Free Negroes1810–1850
Military and pensions
- Militia Rolls1850–1855
- Index to Military Discharges1861–1865
- Confederate Pension Papers1888–1908
Bonds and oaths
- Bonds1735–1805
- Oaths of Officers1879–1903
Elections
- Poll of Voters1853–1866
County government and the poor
- Road Commissioners' Reports1874–1886
Roads
- Roads1735–1851
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
- Orange 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: Orange 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, Orange" 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: Spotsylvania County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Spotsylvania County
Later formed partly from Orange County: Augusta County, Culpeper County, Frederick County, Greene County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1734, 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.