Henry County Genealogy Records

Henry County genealogy records date back to 1777, when the county was first formed from Pittsylvania County in southwestern Virginia. The Circuit Court Clerk's office in Martinsville holds marriage records, land records, probate files, and court documents that researchers need for tracing family history in this part of the state. The office has been keeping the legal history of Henry County since its founding, and that archive is still in active use today.

Henry County Circuit Court Clerk

The Henry County Circuit Court Clerk is Katherine Minter Salgado. The office is located at 3160 Kings Mountain Road, Suite B, Martinsville, VA 24112. The phone number is 276-634-4880. Regular business hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are coming specifically to record a deed, note that deed recording hours are 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, which is slightly shorter than general office hours.

The clerk's office holds more than just genealogy records, but for family history purposes the core collections are marriage licenses, court proceedings, wills, land transactions, and probate files. The Code of Virginia mandates more than 800 duties for the clerk, including issuing marriage licenses, recording deeds, handling probate of wills and estates, and coordinating juror services. All of those functions produce records useful for genealogy research. You can view marriage licenses, court proceedings, wills, and land transactions during regular business hours at the Martinsville location.

The office houses the legal history of Henry County through documents dating back to the 1700s. Marriage records, land records, and probate records all begin in 1777, the year after the county was formed. Divorce records in Henry County start from 1909. Court records of various types are also available and can fill gaps when other record types are incomplete.

Note: Birth and death certificates are not provided by the Clerk's Office. For those records, contact the Virginia Department of Health, Department of Vital Records, in Richmond.

Genealogy Records Available in Henry County

Henry County was created on December 31, 1776 from Pittsylvania County and named for Patrick Henry, one of Virginia's most prominent Revolutionary-era figures. The county is located in southwestern Virginia near the North Carolina border. Its record set is strong for the region and reaches back to the county's first year of existence.

Marriage records begin in 1777 and include original bonds and licenses that name not just the couple but often their parents and witnesses. Land records from 1777 track property ownership through deeds of sale, deeds of trust, and plats. Probate records from 1777 give you wills, estate inventories, and administration bonds. Divorce records, which begin in 1909, are useful for later research when a marriage ended in court rather than through death. Court records from multiple civil and criminal case types round out the collection.

Statewide birth and death registration in Virginia began in 1912. Before that date, vital events in Henry County are documented only through local records such as the clerk's files, church registers, and family Bibles. The Library of Virginia holds some pre-1912 birth and death records for Henry County on microfilm, and these are worth checking if the courthouse does not have what you need.

The FamilySearch wiki for Henry County provides a useful overview of available collections, date ranges, and research strategies specific to this county. FamilySearch also holds digitized copies of some Henry County records that can be searched online at no cost.

How to Search Henry County Genealogy Records

The Henry County Circuit Court Clerk's website at henrycountyva.gov gives you contact details and hours before you make the trip to Martinsville. In-person research is the most thorough method for older records. Bring a list of names and approximate date ranges so staff can point you to the right record books. The public reading area is set up for self-service research once you know what you are looking for.

The Library of Virginia in Richmond holds microfilm and digital materials for Henry County. Their online catalog shows which collections are available remotely. For land records and marriage bonds, searching the Library's catalog before your visit to Martinsville helps you avoid duplicating work. The Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia also covers Henry County and is free to search online.

For post-1912 vital records, the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records handles birth and death certificates statewide. These are not available at the county clerk's office and must be requested from the state agency in Richmond.

Libraries and Local Research Resources

The Henry County circuit court image from henrycountyva.gov shows the official clerk's office portal where you can find current hours, contact information, and procedural details before visiting.

The Martinsville-Henry County Public Library holds local history and genealogy collections that can add context to what you find at the courthouse. Local newspapers, family files, and cemetery records held by the library often contain information not found in court documents. Staff there can help with local research questions specific to the Martinsville area and surrounding communities.

The Virginia Genealogical Society has resources covering Henry County and can connect you with researchers who specialize in southwestern Virginia family history. For cemetery documentation, Find A Grave has recorded many Henry County burials, including older church cemeteries in rural parts of the county that are otherwise difficult to locate through official channels.

Henry County Record History

Henry County's records have been maintained at the Martinsville courthouse since the county's founding in late 1776. The record set starting from 1777 is generally intact for the core genealogy record types. Like many Virginia counties, Henry did not suffer major record losses from courthouse fires during the Civil War, which makes the archive unusually complete for a southwestern Virginia county.

Because Henry County was formed from Pittsylvania County, researchers working on families who were in the area before 1777 should also look at Pittsylvania County records. Property ownership and family relationships documented in Pittsylvania records before the split can help you trace lines back further than the Henry County record set allows. The Library of Virginia holds Pittsylvania records on microfilm and can help you navigate that transition.

Virginia's vital records access rules fall under Code Title 32.1. Older clerk-held records in Henry County are open to the public. Certified copies carry fees set by state law, and the clerk's office can tell you the current schedule if you need a formal copy for legal or documentation purposes.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henry. Each has its own genealogy record archive at the local Circuit Court Clerk's office.