Prince William County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The Board of Supervisors is the basic governing body of the county. County laws--called ordinances--may also be passed by this board. This form of government came into existence with the state constitution of 1869 when the counties were divided into a minimum of three townships each, with a popularly elected supervisor from each township. When the township system was abolished in 1875, the counties were divided into magisterial districts. The Board of Supervisors are the current elected representatives of these districts and meet in regular monthly public sessions.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Board of Supervisors Records, 1891-1982 (bulk 1968-1982), (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties in 1730.

In seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Virginia, the term "tithable" referred to a person who paid (or for whom someone else paid) one of the taxes imposed by the General Assembly for the support of civil government in the colony. In colonial Virginia, a poll tax or capitation tax was assessed on free white males, African American slaves, and Native American servants (both male and female), all age sixteen or older. Owners and masters paid the taxes levied on their slaves and servants. For a more detailed history of tithables, consult "Colonial tithables" found on the Library of Virginia's web site.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Lists of Tithables, 1747, 1765., (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

Some items in this collection were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Records, 1731-1969, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The volume may have originally been created by the County or Circuit Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Warrant Book, 1896-1898, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Deeds record the name of the grantor and the grantee and the description of the property being sold or transferred.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Land Records, 1743-1920 (bulk 1743-1843), (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The items found in this collection were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Deed Books Libers A-B, E, M, P and R, 1731-1771, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II. It was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731.

The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1809 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.

The District Court held at Dumfries heard cases originating in the counties of: included Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing. This volume was rescued from from the burning courthouse by a member of the 145th Pennsylvania Volunteers.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) District Court (Dumries) Records at Large, 1798-1799, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Poll Books, 1902-1924, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

This volume was originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Administrators' Bond Book, 1753-1782, (The Library of Virginia)

The Smith, Huie, and Alexander Company operated out of Dumfries, the oldest town in Prince William County, and a regional center for the shipment, storage, and inspection of tobacco.

Prince William County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of George II. It was formed from Stafford and King George counties in 1730.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Smith, Huie, and Alexander Daybook, 1791-1794, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The items in this collection were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) County Court Records, 1752-1897, undated, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1870-1909, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

Rule books contain orders or directions made by a court regulating court practices or the actions of parties.

Fee books are volumes showing the date of a duty performed by the clerk, the name of the person paying the fees and the amount. These volumes include fees charged attorneys, cash accounts and the clerk's fees in common law and chancery suits.

Memorandum books are used for notations of entries to be made in other books.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1852-1933, (The Library of Virginia)

Chancery causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are "administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law." A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case.

Prince William County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of George II. It was formed from Stafford and King George counties in 1730.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1804-1951 (bulk 1831-1921), (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The land that the town now encompasses was originally part of the Brent Town Grant of 1687. George Brent and three others were granted 30,000 acres by King James II to exercise their religion. These men were among the first English Catholic settlers in Virginia.

The town of Brentsville was created by the General Assembly in 1820. The town was originally laid out in a grid pattern on 50 acres. As residents continued to move farther west for better farm land, officials moved the county seat from Dumfries to Brentsville in 1822. The town grew around the new county courthouse. In 1893, the county seat was moved to Manassas. Four of the six historic structures in the town survived the Civil War--the courthouse, the jail, a log cabin and the "White House."

This volume was originally created by the town's Corporation Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Town of Brentsville Minute Book, 1882-1891, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The records used in these volumes were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Will Books C, G-I, 1734-1809, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

Bull Run Coal and Iron Development Company conducted business in Prince William County and Fauquier County during the late 19th century. It was organized in August 1891, and dissolved in September 1893.

Virginia Publishing Company conducted business in Manassas, Virginia, during the early 20th century. It was organized in December 1909.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Business Records, 1884-1929, (The Library of Virginia)

Prince William County was formed from Stafford and King George Counties by a statute adopted in 1730, to take effect on 12 March 1731. The county was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland and third son of King George II.

Many pre-Civil War records were lost, destroyed, or stolen by Union troops in 1863 during the Civil War. Sixteen deed books and five will books are missing.

The records in this volume were orginially created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Prince William County (Va.) Bond Book, 1753-1786, (The Library of Virginia)