Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Shenandoah 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 Book1772–1911
- General Index to Deeds1772–1921
- Surveyors' Book1785–1921
- Land Grants1795
- Deeds related to Kneisley family1828–1915
- Bill of Sale of Slave1864
- Release Deed Book1883–1919
Wills
- General Index to Wills1772–1925
- Will Book1772–1916
- Wills and Accounts1809–1863
- Circuit Court Wills and Settlements1856–1913
Estates and guardianships
- Record of Fiduciaries1930–1939
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1772–1860
- Ministers' Returns1772–1877
- Marriage Register1781–1915
- Register of Births1853–1871
- Register of Deaths1853–1871
- Register of Marriages1854–1882
- Marriage Licenses1860–1912
- Index to Marriage Register1882–1915
Tax lists
- Tax Receipt1864
- Stamp and Postal Account of Postmaster of Pomona1890–1895
- Financial Statements of Town of Woodstock1938–1940
Court orders and minutes
- Court Papers1772–1869
- Order Book1772–1856
- Minute Book1774–1904
- Chancery Orders1831–1904
- General Index to Minute Book1831–1882
- Common Law Order Book1856–1910
- Chancery Order Book1871–1873
Military and pensions
- Monroe Funkhouser's Civil War Recollections1861–1865
- Muster Roll in the War in Defense of Virginia [Civil War Rosters]1861–1865
- Diary of Sgt. Walter E. E. Orndorff, member of Muhlenburg Rifles Company F, 10th Virginia Infantry1862–1863
- Exemption from Military Service1862
- John W. Franel's Account of Jackson's Valley Campaign1862
- Army Pass for T.H. Williams1864
Bonds and oaths
- Indentures1763–1850
- Certificate of Ordination1844
- Amnesty Oath1865
Elections
- Voter Registration Book1889–1901
County government and the poor
- Alms House Minutes1839–1898
- School Trustees' Minute Book1871–1922
- Board of Supervisors' Docket1904–1909
- School Board Minute Book1909–1922
- School Trustees' Records1915–1917
- Treasurer's Annual Reports1925–1926
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1966–1976
Schools
- School Census Records1870–1915
- Catalog of Woodstock Grade and High School1876–1877
- Teacher's Fund Ledger1881–1914
- Virginia Public School Register1890–1893
- Teacher's Register1898–1906
- Teachers' Association Minute Book1909–1918
- Disbursement of School Moneys1915–1922
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reel 275 is not available through interlibrary loan
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
- Shenandoah 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: Shenandoah 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, Shenandoah" 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: Frederick County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Frederick County
Later formed partly from Shenandoah County: Page County, Warren County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1772, 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.