Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Winchester (Va.) Will Books, 1794-1938. Local government records collection, Winchester Court Records, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from city of Winchester.

Biographical Information

Winchester, in Frederick County, was first known as Opequon, then as Frederick's Town (or Fredericktown), and, finally, upon establishment as a town in 1752, as Winchester. According to tradition, one of the town's founders, James Wood, named the town in honor of his birthplace in England. Winchester was incorporated as a town in 1779 and as a city in 1874. It was enlarged by annexation from Frederick County in 1970.

Scope and Content

Winchester (Va.) Will Books, 1794-1938 typically record the names of the testatior, list of heirs and the year the wills were proven in court, and probate records such as inventories and appraisements.

Related Material

Additional Winchester Court Records 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:

• Winchester (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• African Americans--History --Virginia--Winchester
• Public records--Virginia--Winchester

Geographical Names:

• Winchester (Va.)--History

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Winchester
• Will books--Virginia--Winchester
• Wills--Virginia--Winchester

Adjunct Descriptive Data