Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Minute books for 1787–1819 and 1821–1837 and many loose papers were lost when the courthouse was burned during Stoneman's Raid on 15 December 1864.
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 Washington 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 Book1778–1903
- General Index to Deeds1778–1900
- Land Entry Book1780–1856
- Surveyors' Records1781–1890
- General Index to District Court Deeds1789–1840
- Land Causes1838–1859
- Release Deed Book1884–1909
- Plat Book1890–1923
Wills
- General Index to Will Book1777–1938
- Will Book1777–1908
- Will1886
- General Index to Heirs1953–1971
Estates and guardianships
- Administrators' Bond Book1777–1799
- Inventory and Appraisement of the Personal Property Belonging to the Estate of Col. James White1839–1873
- Guardians' Accounts1840–1919
- Bond Book1872–1877
- Fiduciary Bond Book1890–1905
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Register1785–1911
- Ministers' Returns1786–1832
- Register of Births1853–1892
- Register of Deaths1853–1892
Court orders and minutes
- General Index to Minutes1777–1872
- Minute Book1777–1903
- Order Book1830–1901
- Chancery Order Book1831–1906
- Orphaned Chancery1849–1913
- List of Forfeited Forthcoming Bonds1870–1923
- Daybook1887–1888
- Bond Book1889–1892
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro Register1796–1831
Military and pensions
- Muster Roll1861–1865
Bonds and oaths
- Bonds1864–1882
- Bond Book1870–1871
- General Index to Bonds1870–1907
- Officials' Bond Book1875–1979
- Special Commissioner's Bond Book1887–1921
- Official's Bond Book1959–1979
County government and the poor
- Minutes of the Overseers of the Poor1826–1863
- Sheriffs' Execution Book1832–1890
- Board of Supervisors' Minute Book1870–1939
Schools
- Washington County High School Fund Book1875–1883
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
- Washington 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: Washington 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, Washington" 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: Fincastle County (extinct)
Check the parent county for earlier records: Fincastle County
Later formed partly from Washington County: Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1776, 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.