Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Many loose papers burned in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Deed, will and order books survive, except an order book for 1764–1776.
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 Westmoreland 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
- Deeds1653–1902
- Deeds, Wills, Patents1653–1659
- General Index to Deeds1653–1964
- Deeds, Wills, Etc1661–1662
- Deeds, Patents, Etc1665–1677
- Record Book1711–1794
- Oyster Plat Book1896–1906
Wills
- General Index to Wills1653–1982
- Index to Wills1653–1967
- Wills1755–1903
- General Index to Heirs1935–1982
Estates and guardianships
- Records1723–1968
- Fiduciary Book1742–1789
Marriages, births and deaths
- Bride/Groom Index to Marriages1772–1865
- Marriage Bonds1772–1865
- Record of Marriages1826–1850
- Register of Marriage Licenses with Marriage Certificates1850–1920
- Register of Deaths1853–1896
- Marriage Register1854–1908
- Register of Births1858–1895
- Marriage Licenses1866–1912
Court orders and minutes
- FOR A FEW ORDERS1653–1662
- Orders1662–1860
- Order Book1690–1867
- Minute Book1762–1817
- FOR ORDERS1795–1797
- Court Orders1809–1857
- Court Records1809–1831
- Land Causes1827–1837
- Chancery Order Book1831–1924
- Common Law Order Book1919–1968
- General Index to Criminal Cases1977–1982
Records of free Black and enslaved people
- Free Negro Register1819–1861
Bonds and oaths
- Bond Book1980–1982
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: Reels 18a and 23a are unavailable 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
- Westmoreland 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: Westmoreland 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, Westmoreland" 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: Northumberland County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Northumberland County
Later formed partly from Westmoreland County: Stafford County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1653, 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.