There are vast differences from what is available from County to county in
Virginia. In some instances loose papers were sent to Richmond by the clerks of
the court to solve a crowding problem. In cases such as these you had to
obtain permission from the clerk of the county clerk to view them because although
they were in The Library of Virginia they were still under the clerks control.
In recent years the Library of Virginia or State Archives I am no sure which
sponsored grants for clerks of courts to begin to flat file loose papers so
they can be preserved. They were then inventoried. One such project took place
in Fauquier County, Virginia. It is wonderful. My Burgess family found proof of
who the children were through the papers supporting a law suit. A few years
ago and electrician crawling around in the attic of the court house in Accomac
County, VA found an old chest containing papers dating to about 1735. In
another case a Methodist Minster "acquired papers" from a courthouse where his
ancestor lived. And this has happened in many cases. Descendants "aquaria" loose
papers when left unsupervised in courthouse that are usually understaffed.
Unlike archives that are set up to deal with researchers through a system of
lockers where the persons places all belongs the court house sees most folks
using briefcases. So if you run into a situation where the papers are
restricted, it is probably due to funding shortfalls. Do not give up. Ask the clerk or
deputy clerk if they have plans to obtain a grant for flat filing and when
they think it will actually be done. I understand it is currently on hold because
of funding. Not a Good thing for a state that will celebrate its 400
anniversary in a few short years. Margaret

Margaret R. Amundson, CGsm is a service mark of the Board for Certification
of Genealogists, used under license by Board-certified associates after
periodic proficiency evaluations.

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