Named for Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson County, Virginia, was formed from Berkeley County, Virginia, in 1801. It remained a part of Virginia until 1863. Both Berkeley and Jefferson Counties voted for secession from the United States in the vote taken on May 23, 1861; then in 1863, voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia. In 1871, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Virginia v. West Virginia to uphold the secession of West Virginia (including Berkeley and Jefferson Counties) from Virginia. These abstracts are of the Jefferson County, Virginia records from the county's formation in 1801 until it became part of West Virginia in 1863. Will Book Volume 1 covers 1801 to 1813; Will Book Volume 2 covers 1813 to 1816. These abstracts provide pertinent names and dates, including administrators, executors, appraisers, distributees and legatees, purchasers at sales, slaves, court order dates and date the item was received in court for recording. A full-name index adds to the value of this work.