Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Scott 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 Book1815–1905
- General Index to Deeds1815–1960
- Index to Deeds1815–1924
- Entry Book1816–1858
- Land Title Book1816–1858
- Surveyors' Records1816–1881
- Writings1817–1824
Wills
- General Index to Wills1815–1845
- General Index to Wills and Inventories1816–1890
- Will Book1816–1907
Estates and guardianships
- Inventories1822–1843
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriages1815–1945
- Marriage Bonds1815–1875
- Marriage Register1815–1963
- Ministers' Returns1815–1854
- Marriage Licenses1841–1900
- Marriage Consents1845–1869
- Register of Births1853–1895
- Register of Deaths1853–1870
- Marriage Licenses C1858–1900
- Marriage Licenses D1858–1900
- Marriage Licenses F1858–1900
- Marriage Licenses G1858–1900
- Marriage Licenses K1858–1900
- Marriage Licenses O1858–1900
- and 3 more series in the full listing
Court orders and minutes
- General Index to Minute Book1815–1902
- Ledger Index to Docket Cases1815–1870
- Minute Book1815–1906
- Record of Fines Assessed Out of Court1819–1853
- Law Order Book1825–1880
- Chancery Order Book1831–1903
- General Index to Chancery Order Book1831–1913
- General Index to Law Order Book1831–1913
- Chancery Records-at- Large1837–1847
- Chancery Records-at-Large1837–1847
- Common Law Records-at-Large1840
- Common Law Order Book1852–1978
- Register of Convicts1870–1930
- Clerks' Bond Book1887–1945
Military and pensions
- Militia Lists and Returns1830–1850
- World War I Muster Roll1917–1918
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Records1832–1887
- Bond Book1852–1978
County government and the poor
- Record of Local Board of Review1915–1926
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
- Scott 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: Scott 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, Scott" 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: Lee County, Russell County, Washington County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Lee County, Russell County, Washington County
Later formed partly from Scott County: Wise County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1814, 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.