Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

James City County (Va.) Minute Book, 1865-1870. Local government records collection, James City County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from James City County.

Historical Information

James City County was named for James I. It was one of the eight shires established in 1634. Parts of New Kent and York Counties were added later. The City of Williamsburg, in James City and York Counties, was established by the General Assembly as Middle Plantation in 1633. After the capitol building at Jamestown burned in 1698, the assembly decided to move the capital of the colony to Middle Plantation, which was renamed Williamsburg in 1699 in honor of William III. Williamsburg was established in 1699 and declared a "city Incorporate" in 1722, although its actual status was that of a borough. It served as the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. Williamsburg was incorporated as a city in 1884.

During the Civil War, the records of James City County and Williamsburg were transferred to Richmond for safekeeping but were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865.

Scope and Content

James City County (Va.) Minute Book, 1865-1870, record all matters brought before the court on a daily basis when it was in session including but not limited to: civil and criminal suits, appointments of county officers, appointments of guardians and administrators, deed recordings, free negro registrations, naturalization registrations, and court fees. Clerks would transfer information from minute books to appropriate order book, deed book, fiduciary book, free negro register, etc. Collection includes a minute book from the James City County circuit court.

Arrangement

Chronological by entry date.

Related Material

Additional James City County Court Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

James City County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional James City County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Database found at the Library of Virginia web site.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• James City County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• County officials and employees--Virginia--James City County
• Public records--Virginia--James City County

Geographical Names:

• James City County (Va.)--History--19th century

Genre and Form Terms:

• Judicial records--Virginia--James City County
• Local government records--Virginia--James City County
• Minute books--Virginia--James City County

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• James City County (Va.) Circuit Court

Adjunct Descriptive Data