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Westmoreland County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1854-1916. Local government records collection, Westmoreland County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
These records came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court records from Westmoreland County.
Westmoreland County was named for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland County in 1653. The county seat is Montross.
The circuit courts in Virginia were authorized by the constitution of 1851, and were established by acts passed by the General Assembly in May 1852. Theese courts were granted original jurisdiction concurrent with that of the county courts. Since 1873 they have had exclusive jurisdiction in chancery causes. The Virginia constitution of 1902 made no provision for continuing the county courts, and their original jurisdiction was given to the circuit courts effective 1 February 1904. The circuit courts still exist today, and are now the only court of record in Virginia localities.
Many loose papers were burned during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Volumes that record deeds, court orders (except an order book for the period 1764-1776) and wills exist.
Westmoreland County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1854-1916, consist of 1 box of Executions Returned, 2 Execution Books, 2 Orders at Law Books, 1 Orders of Court and Miscellaneous Court Notes Book and 1 Memorandum Book.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Additional Westomoreland County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.
Westmoreland County (Va.) is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Westmoreland County records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Digital Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.