Record loss
Most of this locality's early records are gone. British troops destroyed most records in 1782, and Union troops did so again in 1864. A few 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 Prince George 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 Book1710–1903
- Surveyors' Plat Book1711–1724
- Deeds, etc1713–1728
- Surveyors' Record1794–1879
- General Index to Deeds1842–1976
- DEED BOOKS1859–1864
- Processioners' Reports1869–1889
- Release Deed Book1884–1917
- Plat Book1894–1917
Wills
- FOR WILLS1713–1792
- Index to Wills, Fiduciaries, etc1847–1991
- Will Book1865–1926
Estates and guardianships
- Inventories and Accounts1835–1841
- Fiduciary Bond Book1865–1934
- Fiduciary Book1865–1870
- List of Fiduciaries1865–1906
- Accounts1866–1907
- Special Commissioners' Bond Book1879–1988
- Settlements of Receivers1947–1990
Marriages, births and deaths
- Index to Marriages1817–1988
- Birth Register1865–1892
- Death Register1865–1873
- Marriage Register1865–1969
Court orders and minutes
- Orders [& Return of Executions]1714–1720
- Minute Book1737–1916
- Order Book1811–1904
- Chancery Order Book1836–1927
- Common Law Order Book1865–1915
- General Index to Judgment Lien Dockets1866–1991
- Judgment Lien Docket Book1866–1904
- Office Judgments1866–1873
- Register of Felons1871–1904
- Clerks' Order Book1904–1943
- Judgment Lien Docket1970–1986
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1861–1918
- Induction1945–1955
Bonds and oaths
- Officials' Bond Book1865–1920
County government and the poor
- Local Board of Review of Assessments1915–1926
- Finance Board Minute Book1932–1955
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
- Prince George 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: Prince George 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, Prince George" 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: Charles City County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Charles City County
Later formed partly from Prince George County: Amelia County, Brunswick County, Dinwiddie County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1703, 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.