Fothergill's work improves upon William A. Crozier's efforts for Westmoreland County by including abstracts of wills of one entire volume (1665-77) omitted by Crozier, and extending Crozier's period of coverage (in Virginia County Records, New Series, Vol. I) by six years to 1800. About 8,000 related individuals are mentioned in 1,200 will abstracts, which typically give the name of the decedent, dates of recording and probate, heirs, executors, and, sometimes, the place of residence. Crucial for anyone doing research in Westmoreland County.

Deed and will books can contain land transactions, mortgages, leases, bills of sale, powers of attorney, marriage contracts, estate settlements, and much more information of genealogical interest. They are a must for researching your family history. Westmoreland County Deed and Will Book No. 8, 1723-1738 beginning on page 248a and ending on page 308 for courts held July 29, 1734 through March 8, 1736. An every-name index adds to the value of this work.

In 1905 Crozier launched an ambitious series entitled "Virginia County Records." This final volume published by Crozier is devoted exclusively to Westmoreland County, Virginia, and contains will abstracts, 1654-1794, and land grants, 1653-1793. The will abstracts, typically, furnish the name of the testator, the date of death and the date of probate, and the name and relationship to the deceased of all persons identified in the will. The index to land grants gives the name of the grantee, date and size of the grant, and source of the original record in Westmoreland County. The index refers to about 2,000 persons who resided in Westmoreland County in the 17th and 18th centuries.