Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Princess Anne 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 Book1691–1865
- General Index to Deeds1691–1880
- Deeds and Wills1714–1735
- Deeds, Wills, Etc1740–1747
- FOR PROCESSIONERS' RETURNS1796–1858
- Record Book1812–1831
- Loose Deed1900
Wills
- Index to Wills1783–1941
- Will Book1783–1871
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Accounts1736–1871
- Audit Book1783–1862
- Guardians' Bonds1814–1884
- Guardians Bonds1850–1861
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1724–1850
- Certificates of Returns of Marriages1786–1850
- Ministers' Returns1787–1821
- Index to Marriages1853–1939
- Register of Births1853–1870
- Register of Marriages1853–1939
- Register of Deaths1864–1870
- Marriage Register1865–1970
Court orders and minutes
- Order Book1691–1714
- Minute Book1709–1861
- Docket Book1795–1800
- Reports in Chancery1814–1849
- Chancery Order Book1831–1858
- Common Law Order Book1901–1904
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro Register1830–1862
- List of Freed Negroes1864
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1861–1865
- Index to Induction1940–1991
County government and the poor
- Electoral Board Minute Book1885–1963
- Road and Bridge Commissioner's Book1926–1928
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
- Find Princess Anne County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the circuit court clerk's office.
- 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: Princess Anne 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, Princess Anne" 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: Lower Norfolk County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1691, 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.