Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. An 1872 fire in the clerk's office destroyed the first marriage register and most loose papers. Deed, order and will books survive, except Will Book 1.
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 Russell 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
- County Surveyors' Book1786–1908
- Land Entry Book1786–1927
- Deed Book1787–1902
- General Index to Deeds1787–1917
- Trust Deed Book1887–1896
- Map of Town of Cleveland1889
Wills
- General Index to Wills and Fiduciaries1803–1929
- Will Book1803–1917
Estates and guardianships
- Bond Book1893–1904
- Fiduciary Settlements1922–1931
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Consents1850–1874
- General Index to Marriage Licenses1853–1930
- Marriage Register1853–1951
- Register of Births1853–1866
- Register of Deaths1853–1866
- Marriage Licenses1874–1905
Court orders and minutes
- General Index to Law Order Book1786–1904
- Law Order Book1786–1904
- Common Law Order Book1809–1904
- Superior Court of Law Deed Book1809–1817
- Chancery Order Book1821–1913
- Convict Register1880–1956
- Bond Book1893–1904
- Index to Miscellaneous Lien Docket1938–1961
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1940–1951
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors' Order Book1871–1912
- Index to Board of Supervisors' Order Book1871–1944
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
- Russell 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: Russell 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, Russell" 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: Washington County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Washington County
Later formed partly from Russell County: Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Lee County, Scott County, Tazewell County, Wise County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1786, 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.