Wills and Estates – The UncommonWealth

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Freedom’s Inherited Rights: A Richmond City Chancery Cause

The chancery cause of Arthur Brown vs. Rachel Goode, et al. (1872-113) was a dispute presented to the Richmond City Hustings Court. The suit revolved…

Sherri BagleyMay 6, 2026

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Location is Everything

Location, location, location. Most people associate the word “location” with real estate based on the common belief that it has a direct influence on a…

Sherri BagleySeptember 3, 2025

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Signed, Sealed and Proved: The Last Will and Testament of Robert, 7th Lord Fairfax

This entry is part of our new "Random Reference" series, which features interesting discoveries made and reference questions answered by our Archives & Library Reference…

Dawn TinnellJune 1, 2020

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Virginia Untold: Lancaster County Fiduciary Records 1657-1872

CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and…

Greg CrawfordAugust 29, 2019

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Be Our Guest: French’s Tavern in Powhatan County

French’s Tavern, located in Powhatan County, was a prominent 19th century inn and ordinary that served travelers on the Old Buckingham Road, an important thoroughfare linking…

Catherine OBrionJune 8, 2016

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A Disregard of Freedom: Burwell versus Pilson’s Administrators

What does it mean to be free? Some might define freedom as having no obligations to a particular thing or person. A free person cannot…

Sherri BagleyDecember 2, 2015

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If The Dead Could Talk: A Patrick County Estate Dispute

In 1999, the horror film The Sixth Sense introduced the iconic phrase, “I see dead people,” into pop culture. The film followed the progression from a young…

Sherri BagleyOctober 14, 2015

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The Women of Smithfield

Processing of the Montgomery County chancery began in August 2013, and one of the early finds was Chancery Cause 1848-016, Letitia Floyd vs. Executors of Elizabeth…

Regan SheltonJanuary 23, 2014

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Where did I put that?

Has this ever happened to you? You sit down to watch TV but cannot find the remote control, you need to go somewhere but cannot…

Greg CrawfordJune 26, 2013

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Lost 19th Century Rockingham Co. Wills Found at LVA

Individuals today wishing to conduct research using Rockingham County court records may encounter a few stumbling blocks. Due to two major events in the locality’s…

Callie FreedMay 8, 2013