An issue or so back the LVA news bulletin announced that a searchable index for these records would be placed on line. From the progress todate, it appears that they are moving slowly or perhaps the job is bigger than they figured. It appears that only 15 or so counties have been indexed. While I searched "all" counties, only 3 of "ours" are indexed: Brunswick, Chesterfield and Mecklenburg. It is possible to search for "any" name in the document, not only the plaintiff and the defendent. This makes the search as broad as possible and the name Poythress appears in all of the documents below. Unfortunately, none have been filmed but all are available for use in the records room of the LVA. Copies must be made by library personnel. Copies may be ordered by mail for 50 cents per page and one is cautioned that some chancery cases can run long. Out of state requests are, as usual, socked with a $20 PER CASE charge. Obviously, we need to do the search either in the library or have a Virginian order them for us. To reach the index page go to the library site: http://www.lva.lib.va.us/ .....go to The Chancery Records Index. An extensive FAQ page is helpful. I have pulled the records in which a Poythress is mentioned in any capacity. The key for the case "number" is four digits representing the year of the conclusion of the case, a dash, and three digits in numerical sequence for the order of indexing at the library. Locality LVA Reel# Local Reel# Plaintiffs vs. Defendants Index # Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed William Warwick Thomas Poythress 1788-008 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed William Mallory, etc. Thomas Poythress 1792-007 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed William Warwick Thomas Poythress 1793-008 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed William Warwick Thomas Poythress 1796-017 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed William Warwick Excrs of James Mason 1796-017 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed John Walton, etc. Heir(s) of James Mason, etc.1804-031 Brunswick Co. Not filmed Not filmed Benjamin Mosely & Wife J. J. Singleton Etc. 1890-038 Chesterfield Co. Not filmed Not filmed Robert Elam the elder, etc. Frederick Raines, etc. 1783-031 Chesterfield Co. Not filmed Not filmed Tabitha Randolph Exr. of Peter Poythress 1798-023 Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Joshua Smith, etc. Hutchins Ferrell 1808-008 Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Lewis Poythress Edward Giles, Admr. etc. 1820-012 Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Petition of Sarah W. Crowder &C by etc. (sic) Blank 1852-013 Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Jones, etc. Admr. of Harwell, etc. 1858-015 CC (?) Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Edward Thomas, etc. Richard S. Thomas &C by etc. 1865-011 Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed Everett King Mansfield R. Seymour etc. 1867-027 CC Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed William L. Poythress Exr. of Nancy Thomas 1880-030 CC Mecklenburg Co. Not filmed Not filmed R. P. Cleaton Harriet Thomas, etc. 1889-007 CC The above total 17 cases. Frankly, the admonition for ordering copies @ .50 that "some of these cases are quiet long" is more interesting than intimidating; I assume that means just all the more detail. Even if its an average of 8 pages per case that works out to less than $70. Obviously, to pay the out-of-state fee is a $340 choker that we avoid at all costs. How to proceed? I guess first question is to we have anyone ready to kill a day in the library? If not, do we have a VA resident that will order them? I suppose we could split them up for transcribing purposes. Thoughts? Maynard