Accomack County Genealogy Records

Accomack County holds some of the oldest genealogy records in Virginia, with land and court documents dating back to 1663. Located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, the county has a rich archive of deeds, wills, marriage licenses, and court orders that researchers can search at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Accomac. Whether you are tracing family lines from the colonial era or looking for records from the last century, Accomack County is a strong starting point for Eastern Shore Virginia genealogy work.

Accomack County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk in Accomack County has been keeping public records since 1663 and is the main place to search genealogy records. The office is at 23316 Courthouse Avenue, Accomac, Virginia 23301. Staff can help you find what you need, but the actual research is up to you. The Accomack County Clerk of Circuit Court does not perform research on your behalf.

The public records room holds a wide range of documents. You can search land records, marriage licenses, wills and probate files, financing statements, divorce records, church trustee records, and criminal and civil court records. Land records go back to 1663. Marriage records start from 1784. Divorce records begin in 1850. Probate and court records also start in 1663, giving you access to one of the deepest genealogy archives in the entire state.

A land records subscription service is available for remote access. You can submit an application to the clerk's office by email. The fee is $50 per month with a three-month minimum, or $550 per year. In-office copies of land records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $2 fee per document. If you are searching for a specific deed or plat, the system allows searches by grantor and grantee name, book and page number, or date range.

Note: The Clerk's Office does not do research for you, but staff will point you to the right materials once you are there.

Genealogy Records Available in Accomack

Accomack County's record set is one of the most complete in Virginia. The county was one of the original eight shires formed in 1634 and has records spanning nearly four centuries. Birth records are available from 1854, and death records start in 1853. Marriage records go back to 1774 through the clerk's office. Court records and land records both begin in 1663. Probate records also date to 1663, which means you can find estate inventories, wills, and administration bonds from the earliest colonial period.

Statewide registration for births and deaths in Virginia began in 1912. Records from before that year are scattered across local clerk's offices and church registers. For Accomack County, birth and death records from 1853 through 1896 are held at the clerk's office and may also be available through the Library of Virginia. The Library of Virginia holds many older Accomack records on microfilm and has digitized portions of the collection for remote searching.

Census records for Accomack County begin in 1810. Earlier counts and tax lists are useful substitutes. Virginia personal property tax lists from the late 1700s and early 1800s can help you track families between census years. The Library of Virginia and FamilySearch both hold these records. The county's records are also well represented in the Virginia Memory digital collections.

How to Search Accomack County Genealogy

You have several ways to search genealogy records in Accomack County. The most direct method is to visit the clerk's office in person during business hours. Staff can show you how to use the index books and deed books. The public records room is set up for self-service research, so plan to spend time going through records yourself.

For land records, a remote subscription gives you access from home. The service includes all recorded deeds, deeds of trust, plats, and other land instruments. You can search by name or document type. This is useful if you are doing extended research and want to avoid multiple trips to the courthouse. The subscription runs through the Accomack County Clerk and requires a completed application and advance payment.

The FamilySearch wiki page for Accomack County has a useful summary of record types, dates, and where to find them. FamilySearch also holds digital images of some Accomack records, including older marriage and probate files. Ancestry and other subscription services may have indexed portions of the county's records as well. Cross-referencing multiple platforms gives you the best chance of finding what you need.

Note: For vital records after 1912, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond, which holds statewide birth and death certificates from that year forward.

Local Libraries and Research Resources

The Eastern Shore Public Library at 23610 Front Street, Accomac, VA 23301 (Phone: 757-787-3400) is a key resource for Accomack County genealogy. The library holds local history collections, family files, and newspapers that supplement the court records. Staff there have experience with Eastern Shore research and can point you to sources beyond what the courthouse holds.

For researchers focused on the Chincoteague area, the Island Library at 4077 Main Street, Chincoteague, VA 23336 (Phone: 757-336-3460) has additional materials specific to that part of the county. Island families, fishing communities, and watermen's records are better represented in the local library collections than in the courthouse alone.

The Virginia Genealogical Society offers statewide resources and maintains a library in Richmond. Their publication and database holdings include Accomack County material. The Virginia Courts system also maintains case index information for more recent records. For cemetery records, Find A Grave has a large number of Accomack County burials documented by volunteers.

Accomack County Record History

Accomack County has an unusual history. It was created in 1663 from Northampton County as one of the original Virginia shires. The county was briefly abolished in 1670 and restored in 1673. The name was spelled "Accomac" for most of its history and was officially changed to "Accomack" in 1940. This name variation matters for genealogy searches because records filed before 1940 may be indexed under the older spelling.

The county has no known history of courthouse fires or major record losses. That makes it rare among Virginia counties, where courthouse fires destroyed records in many localities during and after the Civil War. In Accomack County, the continuous record set from 1663 forward is intact. You can trace property ownership, probate estates, and court cases from the colonial period through the present without significant gaps.

Virginia's vital records statutes govern access to birth and death certificates. Older records held at the courthouse are generally open to the public. Certified copies carry a fee set by state law. The clerk's office can advise you on what is available and how to get a certified copy if you need one for legal purposes.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Accomack. Each maintains its own genealogy records at the Circuit Court Clerk's office.