Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions. Some Norfolk County wills are available on microfilm at the Library of Virginia; use the microfilm copy, if available.

Preferred Citation

Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910. Local government records collection, Chesapeake (City)/Norfolk County Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Norfolk County.

Historical Information

Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, from his native county in England. It was formed from Lower Norfolk County in 1691. Norfolk County became extinct in 1963, when it was consolidated with the city of South Norfolk to form the city of Chesapeake.

Scope and Content

Norfolk County (Va.) Wills, 1744-1910, record the deceased's plan for how his or her estate was to be divided among his or her heirs following his or her death. Information commonly recorded in wills include the name of the deceased, also referred as the testator; names of heirs; a listing of real and personal property (including slaves) and how it was to be divided among the heirs; names of individuals who were to be the will's executors; the date will was written; and the date will was recorded at the court house. Additional record types may be found in this collection such as fiduciary records (inventories and accounts.) Individuals dying with a written will died testate. After the death of an individual, his or her will was brought into court, where two of the subscribing witnesses swore that the document was genuine. After the will was proved, the executor was bonded to carry out his or her duties to settle the estate. The court then ordered the will to be recorded.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

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

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Chesapeake (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans---History
• Estates (Law)--Virginia--Norfolk County
• Land subdivision--Virginia--Norfolk County
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Norfolk County
• Slaves--Virginia--Norfolk County

Geographical Names:

• Chesapeake (Va.)--History
• Norfolk County--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Norfolk County
• Wills--Virginia--Norfolk County

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Norfolk County (Va.) Circuit Court

Adjunct Descriptive Data