Find Genealogy in Nottoway County

Nottoway County in south-central Virginia holds genealogy records going back to its formation in 1789, including land, probate, and military documents from that year. The Circuit Court Clerk's office at 328 West Courthouse Road in Nottoway is the main repository for local records, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Researchers searching for ancestors in Nottoway will find a solid archive covering more than two centuries of family history.

Nottoway Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is located at 328 West Courthouse Road, P.O. Box 25, Nottoway, Virginia 23955. The phone number is (434) 645-9043. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all court and locality records for Nottoway County.

The office handles vital records including marriage licenses, land records recording, and court case management. The official Nottoway County Clerk of Circuit Court page provides current contact information and office procedures. Staff can guide you to the right record series, but you do the research yourself during your visit.

Nottoway County was created from Amelia County on May 1, 1789 and named for the Nadowa Indian tribe. The county includes the towns of Blackstone, Burkeville, and Crewe. There is no known courthouse disaster history for Nottoway, which means the record set from 1789 forward is intact. Land, probate, and military records date from the county's founding year. Marriage, divorce, and court records begin in 1865.

Note: The Clerk's Office does not perform genealogical research for visitors, but staff will point you to the correct record books and indexes.

Genealogy Records Available in Nottoway

Nottoway County holds a well-preserved record set that covers the core genealogy documents. Land records begin in 1789, the year of the county's formation. Probate records and military records also start in 1789. Marriage records, divorce records, and court records date from 1865. Birth and death records began in 1865 as well, with statewide registration starting in 1912.

The fact that Nottoway has no known courthouse disaster history is significant. Many Virginia counties lost decades of records in fires or during the Civil War. Nottoway's archive from 1789 forward gives you more than 230 years of continuous documentation. Deeds, wills, inventories, court orders, and marriage bonds all survive for the full period from the county's founding.

For the period before 1789, researchers should look at Amelia County records, since Nottoway was created from Amelia. Amelia County records held at the Library of Virginia may contain entries for families who later settled in Nottoway. Cross-referencing Amelia and Nottoway records can help you trace family lines back into the 18th century.

Census records are also key for Nottoway County research. Virginia censuses from 1810 onward include Nottoway. The 1790 census does not survive for Virginia, but the 1810 and later censuses are intact. Tax lists from 1782 forward are available through the Library of Virginia and can substitute for the missing 1790 census data.

How to Search Nottoway County Genealogy

The most direct approach is to visit the clerk's office in person. The office is at 328 West Courthouse Road and is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the names and approximate dates for the people you are searching. Staff will show you the index system, and you can then pull the relevant deed books, will books, and court order books yourself.

Online resources for Nottoway County include the FamilySearch wiki for Nottoway County, which summarizes record types and repositories. FamilySearch has digitized some Nottoway records and offers free online access. The Virginia Memory portal at the Library of Virginia also includes some Nottoway materials in its digital collections.

The Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Index can be searched online for additional Nottoway County genealogy data. Chancery cases often contain family information not found in standard deed and probate records. For recent court records, the Virginia Courts online system provides case information.

Researchers working on Nottoway families that predate 1789 should check Amelia County records at the Library of Virginia. Amelia was the parent county, and many early Nottoway families appear in Amelia records before the county was divided.

Libraries and Local Resources

The Nottoway County Public Library is a useful supplement to the courthouse records. Local history collections, newspaper files, and family research materials held at the library can add context to what you find in the official records. Library staff may be familiar with published genealogies covering Nottoway County families.

The Virginia Genealogical Society provides statewide resources and research assistance. Their library in Richmond holds materials on many Virginia counties, including south-central Virginia localities like Nottoway. The society publishes research guides and maintains an index of published Virginia family histories that may include Nottoway families.

For vital records after 1912, contact the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Birth and death certificates from 1912 forward are held there and can be requested by mail or in person. The VDH website describes the process and required identification for obtaining certified copies.

Nottoway County Record History

Nottoway County has no known courthouse disaster history. That is a meaningful distinction in Virginia genealogy, where courthouse fires destroyed records in dozens of localities. The county's records from 1789 forward are intact, which gives researchers reliable access to over two centuries of documentation.

The county was created from Amelia County in 1789 and named for the Nadowa people who had lived in the region. The name Nottoway is an anglicized version of Nadowa. The county seat takes the same name. The towns of Blackstone, Burkeville, and Crewe developed over the following century and may appear in the county's records as addresses or locations for land transactions and court filings.

Military records in Nottoway County begin in 1789, which is earlier than in many Virginia counties. Researchers looking for ancestors who served in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, or the Civil War may find service-related documents in the county's military record series. The clerk's office can advise on what is held and how to search it.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Nottoway and maintain their own genealogy records at the Circuit Court Clerk's offices.