Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, a second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonists in their disputes with Great Britain. It was formed from Augusta County in 1778. Its area is 871 square miles, and the county seat is Harrisonburg. The population is 67,725 according to the 2000 census. Many pre-Civil War records were lost during the Valley Campaign of 1864. In an effort to safeguard the records, they were loaded onto a wagon that was subsequently set afire by Union troops. Records that were saved include: administrators, executors, and guardians bonds.

Note: A courthouse fire in 1787 destroyed wills and estate records, primarily. Many order books, deed books, will books, and fiduciary books were lost or severely damaged by the fire in 1864. Pre-1865 records including deeds and wills were rerecorded following an act of assembly passed in Nov. 1884.

Original Records at The Library of Virginia: Yes