Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Smyth 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 Book1832–1903
- Entry Book1832–1929
- General Index to Deeds1832–1980
- Index to Maps and Plats1832–1980
- Surveyors' Book1833–1927
- Plat Book1922–1955
Wills
- General Index to Will Book1832–1969
- General Index to Wills1832–1913
- Will Book1832–1901
- Index to Wills Filed1959–1980
- Index to Will Book1969–1980
Estates and guardianships
- Record of Fiduciaries1875–1880
- Clerks' Fiduciary Order Book1967–1980
Marriages, births and deaths
- General Index to Marriage Register1832–1980
- Marriage Records1832–1840
- Marriage Register1832–1956
- Marriage Bonds1840–1861
- Register of Births1853–1896
- Register of Deaths1853–1896
- Index to Births and Deaths1854–1917
- Marriage Certificates1861–1902
- Cohabitation Register1866
Tax lists
- Land Tax Book1832–1850
Court orders and minutes
- Chancery Order Book1832–1922
- Common Law Order Book1832–1920
- General Index to Court Orders1832–1939
- Order Book1832–1904
- Land Causes1837–1846
- Minute Book1930–1940
- Judgment Lien Docket and Execution Book1957–1963
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll in the War with Germany1917–1918
- World War Veterans Book1918–1926
- General Index to Induction and Discharge Records1940–1980
Bonds and oaths
- Officials' Bond Book1856–1923
- Commissioners' Bond Book1886–1926
- Bond Book1976–1980
Elections
- Voter Registration Book1902–1905
County government and the poor
- County Finance Board Minute Book1932–1968
- Board of Supervisors' Order Book1978–1980
Roads
- Index to Roads1832–1938
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
- Smyth 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: Smyth 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, Smyth" 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, Wythe County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Washington County, Wythe County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1832, 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.