Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. In the evacuation fire of 3 April 1865, the circuit court's deed and will books were lost, though many of its order books and its papers for pending suits were rescued. Most Hustings Court records, including its deeds and wills, 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 City of Richmond, 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 Deeds [Hustings1782–1917
- Hustings Deeds1782–1870
- Plat Book1830–1906
- Deed Book1863–1865
- Manchester Land Use Record Book1867–1909
- Chancery Court Deeds1870–1900
- Hustings Court Deeds, Division1874–1901
Wills
- Hustings Wills [Invs., Accts., etc.]1783–1866
- Index to Wills [Hustings1810–1926
- Circuit Court Will Book1852–1865
- Hustings Wills1866–1869
- Chancery Court Wills1870–1901
- Current Index to Wills1926–1943
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1797–1850
- Consents, Certificates, Ministers' Returns1817–1857
- Marriage Register [Hustings Court]1853–1878
- Death Certificates1862–1912
- Addendum to Birth Records Index [Out of Order]1870–1912
- Addendum to Death Records Index [Out of Order]1870–1954
- Birth Records Index1870–1954
- Death Records Index1870–1954
- Manchester Death Certificates1892–1901
- Department of Health Death Ledger1910
Tax lists
- Manchester Delinquent Tax Book1895–1913
- Property Assessment Records1934–1977
Court orders and minutes
- Hustings Court Order Book1782–1899
- Hustings Court Minutes1788–1870
- Common Law Office Judgments1855–1927
- Common Law Order Book1859–1915
- Manchester Police Court Record Book1866–1891
- Chancery Order Book1870–1925
- Convict Register1870–1940
- Police Court Record of Criminal Judgments1878–1900
- Police Court Docket1896–1910
Military and pensions
- Confederate Pension Board Minute Book1900–1926
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
- City of Richmond official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the independent city 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: City of Richmond 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, Richmond" 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: Became an independent city in 1902, separating from Henrico County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Henrico County
Records stay with the county that created them. The atlas dates this city's independence to 1902, when Virginia's new constitution separated every city from its county. Many older cities already kept some of their own court records (hustings court records, for example), so search both the city's records and the county's. 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 independent city sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.