2026-05-10T20:52:54Z

Louisa County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1795-1825

Creator

Louisa County (Va.) Circuit Court

Abstract Or Scope

Louisa County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1795-1825, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.

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Collection Context

1. Library of Virginia